diff --git a/Help/manual/cmake-variables.7.rst b/Help/manual/cmake-variables.7.rst
index 5e20196093..7539cd4ee0 100644
--- a/Help/manual/cmake-variables.7.rst
+++ b/Help/manual/cmake-variables.7.rst
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ Variables that Provide Information
    /variable/CMAKE_LANG_COMPILER_LINKER_VERSION
    /variable/CMAKE_LANG_COMPILER_RANLIB
    /variable/CMAKE_LANG_LINK_LIBRARY_SUFFIX
+   /variable/CMAKE_LANG_LINK_MODE
    /variable/CMAKE_LINK_LIBRARY_SUFFIX
    /variable/CMAKE_LINK_SEARCH_END_STATIC
    /variable/CMAKE_LINK_SEARCH_START_STATIC
diff --git a/Help/release/dev/CMAKE_LANG_LINK_MODE.rst b/Help/release/dev/CMAKE_LANG_LINK_MODE.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3a0e38c97c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Help/release/dev/CMAKE_LANG_LINK_MODE.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+CMAKE_LANG_LINK_MODE
+--------------------
+
+* The :variable:`CMAKE_<LANG>_LINK_MODE` variable was added to provide
+  information on how the link step is done.
diff --git a/Help/variable/CMAKE_LANG_LINK_MODE.rst b/Help/variable/CMAKE_LANG_LINK_MODE.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1dbb538ff2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Help/variable/CMAKE_LANG_LINK_MODE.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+CMAKE_<LANG>_LINK_MODE
+----------------------
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.32
+
+Defines how the link step is done. The possible values are:
+
+``DRIVER``
+  The compiler is used as driver for the link step.
+
+``LINKER``
+  The linker is used directly for the link step.
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/ADSP.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/ADSP.cmake
index 39dcf39083..6af58d13d7 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/ADSP.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/ADSP.cmake
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ macro(__compiler_adsp lang)
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-flags-link" " ")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP ",")
 
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
+
   set(_CMAKE_${lang}_ADSP_FLAGS "-proc=${CMAKE_ADSP_PROCESSOR}")
 
   set(CMAKE_DEPFILE_FLAGS_${lang} "-MD -Mo <DEP_FILE>")
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/ARMCC.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/ARMCC.cmake
index f4f1854a17..ba64c28513 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/ARMCC.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/ARMCC.cmake
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ macro(__compiler_armcc lang)
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_OUTPUT_EXTENSION_REPLACE 1)
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_RESPONSE_FILE_LINK_FLAG "--via=")
 
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE LINKER)
+
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_EXECUTABLE      "<CMAKE_LINKER> <CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_FLAGS> <LINK_FLAGS> <LINK_LIBRARIES> <OBJECTS> -o <TARGET> --list <TARGET_BASE>.map")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_CREATE_STATIC_LIBRARY  "<CMAKE_AR> --create -cr <TARGET> <LINK_FLAGS> <OBJECTS>")
 
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/Absoft-Fortran.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/Absoft-Fortran.cmake
index 8724f854a3..57f248a040 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/Absoft-Fortran.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/Absoft-Fortran.cmake
@@ -11,3 +11,5 @@ set(CMAKE_Fortran_FORMAT_FREE_FLAG "-ffree")
 set(CMAKE_Fortran_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-X")
 set(CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILE_OPTIONS_PREPROCESS_ON "-cpp")
 set(CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILE_OPTIONS_PREPROCESS_OFF "-no-cpp")
+
+set(CMAKE_Fortran_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/Bruce-C.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/Bruce-C.cmake
index 6b64e58065..a4b89fa500 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/Bruce-C.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/Bruce-C.cmake
@@ -7,3 +7,5 @@ string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS_RELEASE_INIT " -DNDEBUG")
 string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO_INIT " -g -DNDEBUG")
 
 set(CMAKE_C_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-X")
+
+set(CMAKE_C_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/Clang.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/Clang.cmake
index f834f7a783..8cb14d7f0c 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/Clang.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/Clang.cmake
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ if("x${CMAKE_C_SIMULATE_ID}" STREQUAL "xMSVC"
     OR "x${CMAKE_CUDA_SIMULATE_ID}" STREQUAL "xMSVC"
     OR "x${CMAKE_Fortran_SIMULATE_ID}" STREQUAL "xMSVC")
   macro(__compiler_clang lang)
+    set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE LINKER)
   endmacro()
 else()
   include(Compiler/GNU)
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/Cray.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/Cray.cmake
index c214afc691..8d56bbb8e7 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/Cray.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/Cray.cmake
@@ -14,4 +14,6 @@ macro(__compiler_cray lang)
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_COMPILE_OPTIONS_PIC -h PIC)
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_COMPILE_OPTIONS_PIE -h PIC)
   set(CMAKE_SHARED_LIBRARY_${lang}_FLAGS "-h PIC")
+
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
 endmacro()
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/Fujitsu.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/Fujitsu.cmake
index 55c2aa48e4..a77b5f02f8 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/Fujitsu.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/Fujitsu.cmake
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ macro(__compiler_fujitsu lang)
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-Wl,")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP ",")
 
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
+
   # IPO flag
   set(_CMAKE_${lang}_IPO_SUPPORTED_BY_CMAKE YES)
   if ("${lang}" STREQUAL "Fortran")
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/G95-Fortran.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/G95-Fortran.cmake
index 5dba04efb6..c46795c646 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/G95-Fortran.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/G95-Fortran.cmake
@@ -11,3 +11,5 @@ set(CMAKE_Fortran_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-Wl,")
 set(CMAKE_Fortran_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP ",")
 set(CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILE_OPTIONS_PREPROCESS_ON "-cpp")
 set(CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILE_OPTIONS_PREPROCESS_OFF "-no-cpp")
+
+set(CMAKE_Fortran_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/GNU.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/GNU.cmake
index 83c818d49b..e2e6549c82 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/GNU.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/GNU.cmake
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ macro(__compiler_gnu lang)
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-Wl,")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP ",")
 
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
+
   # Older versions of gcc (< 4.5) contain a bug causing them to report a missing
   # header file as a warning if depfiles are enabled, causing check_header_file
   # tests to always succeed.  Work around this by disabling dependency tracking
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/HP-C.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/HP-C.cmake
index 8fa4c08e2b..2571d8f287 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/HP-C.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/HP-C.cmake
@@ -5,3 +5,5 @@ set(CMAKE_C_CREATE_PREPROCESSED_SOURCE "<CMAKE_C_COMPILER> <DEFINES> <INCLUDES>
 
 set(CMAKE_C_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-Wl,")
 set(CMAKE_C_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP ",")
+
+set(CMAKE_C_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/HP-CXX.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/HP-CXX.cmake
index 5726b64948..b7503e975c 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/HP-CXX.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/HP-CXX.cmake
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ set(CMAKE_CXX_CREATE_PREPROCESSED_SOURCE "<CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER> <DEFINES> <INCLUD
 set(CMAKE_CXX_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-Wl,")
 set(CMAKE_CXX_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP ",")
 
+set(CMAKE_CXX_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
+
 # HP aCC since version 3.80 supports the flag +hpxstd98 to get ANSI C++98
 # template support. It is known that version 6.25 doesn't need that flag.
 # Current assumption: the flag is needed for every version from 3.80 to 4
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/IAR.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/IAR.cmake
index 8dadb7612c..01420ba768 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/IAR.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/IAR.cmake
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ macro(__compiler_iar_common lang)
     string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_RELEASE_INIT " -Oh -DNDEBUG")
     string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_MINSIZEREL_INIT " -Ohz -DNDEBUG")
     string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO_INIT " -Oh -r -DNDEBUG")
+
+    set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE LINKER)
   endif()
 
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_OUTPUT_EXTENSION_REPLACE 1)
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/Intel.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/Intel.cmake
index 367d26e092..fd582fbc73 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/Intel.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/Intel.cmake
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ if(CMAKE_HOST_WIN32)
     else()
       set(CMAKE_${lang}_COMPILE_OPTIONS_WARNING_AS_ERROR "-Werror-all")
     endif()
+
+    set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE LINKER)
   endmacro()
 else()
   # GNU-like
@@ -57,5 +59,7 @@ else()
       # COMPILE_WARNING_AS_ERROR
       set(CMAKE_${lang}_COMPILE_OPTIONS_WARNING_AS_ERROR "-Werror-all")
     endif()
+
+    set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
   endmacro()
 endif()
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/IntelLLVM.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/IntelLLVM.cmake
index b9f4ca08ce..b1dda9af5a 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/IntelLLVM.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/IntelLLVM.cmake
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ macro(__compiler_intel_llvm_common lang)
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_ARCHIVE_CREATE_IPO "\"${CMAKE_${lang}_COMPILER_AR}\" qc <TARGET> <LINK_FLAGS> <OBJECTS>")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_ARCHIVE_APPEND_IPO "\"${CMAKE_${lang}_COMPILER_AR}\" q <TARGET> <LINK_FLAGS> <OBJECTS>")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_ARCHIVE_FINISH_IPO "\"${CMAKE_${lang}_COMPILER_RANLIB}\" <TARGET>")
+
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
 endmacro()
 
 if(CMAKE_HOST_WIN32)
@@ -73,6 +75,8 @@ else()
     set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-Wl,")
     set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP ",")
 
+    set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
+
     # distcc does not transform -o to -MT when invoking the preprocessor
     # internally, as it ought to.  Work around this bug by setting -MT here
     # even though it isn't strictly necessary.
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/LCC.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/LCC.cmake
index 2892ec6ff1..24396cef07 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/LCC.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/LCC.cmake
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ macro(__compiler_lcc lang)
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-Wl,")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP ",")
 
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
+
   # Older versions of gcc (< 4.5) contain a bug causing them to report a missing
   # header file as a warning if depfiles are enabled, causing check_header_file
   # tests to always succeed.  Work around this by disabling dependency tracking
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/LFortran-Fortran.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/LFortran-Fortran.cmake
index 9090e1d570..05e1a7dcc3 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/LFortran-Fortran.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/LFortran-Fortran.cmake
@@ -12,3 +12,5 @@ set(CMAKE_Fortran_PREPROCESS_SOURCE "<CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER> --cpp <DEFINES> <I
 set(CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILE_OBJECT "<CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER> --cpp-infer <DEFINES> <INCLUDES> <FLAGS> --generate-object-code -c <SOURCE> -o <OBJECT>")
 set(CMAKE_SHARED_LIBRARY_CREATE_Fortran_FLAGS "--shared")
 set(CMAKE_SHARED_LIBRARY_LINK_Fortran_FLAGS "-Wl,-export-dynamic")
+
+set(CMAKE_Fortran_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/LLVMFlang-Fortran.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/LLVMFlang-Fortran.cmake
index 0a432a9922..5b7aee45c3 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/LLVMFlang-Fortran.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/LLVMFlang-Fortran.cmake
@@ -18,9 +18,13 @@ set(CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILE_OPTIONS_TARGET "--target=")
 set(CMAKE_Fortran_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-Wl,")
 set(CMAKE_Fortran_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP ",")
 
-if(NOT "x${CMAKE_Fortran_SIMULATE_ID}" STREQUAL "xMSVC")
+if("x${CMAKE_Fortran_SIMULATE_ID}" STREQUAL "xMSVC")
+  set(CMAKE_Fortran_LINK_MODE LINKER)
+else()
   set(CMAKE_Fortran_VERBOSE_FLAG "-v")
 
+  set(CMAKE_Fortran_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
+
   string(APPEND CMAKE_Fortran_FLAGS_DEBUG_INIT " -O0 -g")
   string(APPEND CMAKE_Fortran_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO_INIT " -O2 -g")
   string(APPEND CMAKE_Fortran_FLAGS_RELEASE_INIT " -O3")
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/MSVC.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/MSVC.cmake
index 9c09af12d9..6cd2dc93cd 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/MSVC.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/MSVC.cmake
@@ -22,4 +22,6 @@ macro(__compiler_msvc lang)
     set(CMAKE_INCLUDE_SYSTEM_FLAG_${lang} "-external:I")
     set(CMAKE_INCLUDE_SYSTEM_FLAG_${lang}_WARNING "-external:W0 ")
   endif ()
+
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE LINKER)
 endmacro()
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/NAG-Fortran.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/NAG-Fortran.cmake
index a6636c4d16..50b2991daf 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/NAG-Fortran.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/NAG-Fortran.cmake
@@ -47,5 +47,7 @@ set(CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILE_OPTIONS_PIE "-PIC")
 set(CMAKE_Fortran_RESPONSE_FILE_LINK_FLAG "-Wl,@")
 set(CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILE_OPTIONS_PREPROCESS_ON "-fpp")
 
+set(CMAKE_Fortran_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
+
 set(CMAKE_Fortran_PREPROCESS_SOURCE
   "<CMAKE_Fortran_COMPILER> -fpp <DEFINES> <INCLUDES> <FLAGS> -F <SOURCE> -o <PREPROCESSED_SOURCE>")
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/NVHPC.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/NVHPC.cmake
index 6ebc2fb183..32ba5aca89 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/NVHPC.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/NVHPC.cmake
@@ -15,4 +15,6 @@ macro(__compiler_nvhpc lang)
   set(CMAKE_INCLUDE_SYSTEM_FLAG_${lang} "-isystem ")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_COMPILE_OPTIONS_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAIN "--gcc-toolchain=")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_COMPILE_OPTIONS_WARNING_AS_ERROR "-Werror")
+
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
 endmacro()
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/NVIDIA.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/NVIDIA.cmake
index 21e71cc21b..0d0f03ad00 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/NVIDIA.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/NVIDIA.cmake
@@ -155,6 +155,12 @@ macro(__compiler_nvidia_cuda_flags lang)
     set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP)
   endif()
 
+  if (CMAKE_${lang}_SIMULATE_ID STREQUAL "MSVC")
+    set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE LINKER)
+  else()
+    set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
+  endif()
+
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_RUNTIME_LIBRARY_LINK_OPTIONS_STATIC  "cudadevrt;cudart_static")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_RUNTIME_LIBRARY_LINK_OPTIONS_SHARED  "cudadevrt;cudart")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_RUNTIME_LIBRARY_LINK_OPTIONS_NONE    "")
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/OpenWatcom.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/OpenWatcom.cmake
index 8cfe6838dd..1cc00683e6 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/OpenWatcom.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/OpenWatcom.cmake
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ foreach(lang C CXX)
   string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_MINSIZEREL_INIT " -s -os -d0 -dNDEBUG")
   string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_RELEASE_INIT " -s -ot -d0 -dNDEBUG")
   string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO_INIT " -s -ot -d1 -dNDEBUG")
+
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE LINKER)
 endforeach()
 
 # C create import library
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/OrangeC.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/OrangeC.cmake
index fbb245b748..71ed04cd57 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/OrangeC.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/OrangeC.cmake
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ macro(__compiler_orangec lang)
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_DEPFILE_FORMAT gcc)
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_DEPENDS_USE_COMPILER TRUE)
 
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
+
   string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_INIT " ")
   string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_DEBUG_INIT " -g")
   string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_RELEASE_INIT " -O2 -DNDEBUG")
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/PGI.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/PGI.cmake
index b037fbcbcc..a3f8706896 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/PGI.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/PGI.cmake
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ macro(__compiler_pgi lang)
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-Wl,")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP ",")
 
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
+
   set(_CMAKE_${lang}_IPO_SUPPORTED_BY_CMAKE YES)
   if(NOT CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR STREQUAL ppc64le AND (NOT CMAKE_HOST_WIN32 OR CMAKE_${lang}_COMPILER_VERSION VERSION_LESS 16.3) AND CMAKE_${lang}_COMPILER_VERSION VERSION_LESS 23.3)
     set(_CMAKE_${lang}_IPO_MAY_BE_SUPPORTED_BY_COMPILER YES)
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/PathScale.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/PathScale.cmake
index d5f8cb12b8..d1a6de213e 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/PathScale.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/PathScale.cmake
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ macro(__compiler_pathscale lang)
   # Feature flags.
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_VERBOSE_FLAG "-v")
 
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
+
   # Initial configuration flags.
   string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_INIT " ")
   string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_DEBUG_INIT " -g -O0")
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/SCO.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/SCO.cmake
index 7f643d920f..7143d5ae53 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/SCO.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/SCO.cmake
@@ -18,4 +18,6 @@ macro(__compiler_sco lang)
 
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-Wl,")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP ",")
+
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
 endmacro()
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/SunPro.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/SunPro.cmake
index 331cdfc00b..649c0de2b1 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/SunPro.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/SunPro.cmake
@@ -11,4 +11,6 @@ include(Compiler/CMakeCommonCompilerMacros)
 
 macro(__compiler_sunpro lang)
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_COMPILE_OPTIONS_WARNING_AS_ERROR "-errwarn=%all")
+
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
 endmacro()
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/TI.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/TI.cmake
index 6cb115bafc..96047381e9 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/TI.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/TI.cmake
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ macro(__compiler_ti lang)
   set(CMAKE_INCLUDE_FLAG_${lang} "--include_path=")
   set(CMAKE_DEPFILE_FLAGS_${lang} "--preproc_with_compile --preproc_dependency=<DEP_FILE>")
 
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
+
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_CREATE_PREPROCESSED_SOURCE "<CMAKE_${lang}_COMPILER> --preproc_only ${__COMPILER_TI_SOURCE_FLAG_${lang}}=<SOURCE> <DEFINES> <INCLUDES> <FLAGS> --output_file=<PREPROCESSED_SOURCE>")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_CREATE_ASSEMBLY_SOURCE     "<CMAKE_${lang}_COMPILER> --compile_only --skip_assembler ${__COMPILER_TI_SOURCE_FLAG_${lang}}=<SOURCE> <DEFINES> <INCLUDES> <FLAGS> --output_file=<ASSEMBLY_SOURCE>")
 
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/TIClang.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/TIClang.cmake
index 4965e62712..d069e946c0 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/TIClang.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/TIClang.cmake
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ macro(__compiler_ticlang lang)
 
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-Xlinker" " ")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP)
+
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
 endmacro()
 
 set(CMAKE_EXECUTABLE_SUFFIX ".out")
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/Tasking.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/Tasking.cmake
index 82622fa204..6731e287f9 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/Tasking.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/Tasking.cmake
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ macro(__compiler_tasking lang)
   set(CMAKE_DEPFILE_FLAGS_${lang} "--dep-file=<DEP_FILE>")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_COMPILE_OPTIONS_WARNING_AS_ERROR "--warning-as-errors")
 
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
+
   string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_INIT " ")
   string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_DEBUG_INIT " -O0 -g")
   string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_MINSIZEREL_INIT " -O2 -t4 -DNDEBUG")
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/TinyCC-C.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/TinyCC-C.cmake
index 6367695b9c..b2f733ac0f 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/TinyCC-C.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/TinyCC-C.cmake
@@ -9,3 +9,5 @@ string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO_INIT " -g -DNDEBUG")
 
 set(CMAKE_C_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-Wl,")
 set(CMAKE_C_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP ",")
+
+set(CMAKE_C_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
diff --git a/Modules/Compiler/XL.cmake b/Modules/Compiler/XL.cmake
index 844fcfd899..09cf6017d6 100644
--- a/Modules/Compiler/XL.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Compiler/XL.cmake
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ macro(__compiler_xl lang)
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "-Wl,")
   set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP ",")
 
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE DRIVER)
+
   string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_DEBUG_INIT " -g")
   string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_RELEASE_INIT " -O")
   string(APPEND CMAKE_${lang}_FLAGS_MINSIZEREL_INIT " -O")
diff --git a/Modules/Platform/Windows-IntelLLVM.cmake b/Modules/Platform/Windows-IntelLLVM.cmake
index 2fc909a44a..363735acb2 100644
--- a/Modules/Platform/Windows-IntelLLVM.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Platform/Windows-IntelLLVM.cmake
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ if(CMAKE_GENERATOR MATCHES "Visual Studio")
   # MSBuild invokes the "link" tool directly.
   set(_IntelLLVM_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG "")
   set(_IntelLLVM_LINKER_WRAPPER_FLAG_SEP "")
+
+  set(CMAKE_${lang}_LINK_MODE LINKER)
 else()
   # Our rules below drive linking through the compiler front-end.
   # Wrap flags meant for the linker.