diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
index 85d93b249528..3ac963f56bd3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ jobs:
             os: ubuntu-26.04-arm
           - target: i686-pc-windows-msvc
             os: windows-2025
+            host: x86_64-pc-windows-msvc # Tier 1 without host tools
           - target: i686-unknown-linux-gnu
           - target: x86_64-pc-windows-gnu
             os: windows-2025
@@ -149,6 +150,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os && matrix.os || 'ubuntu-26.04' }}
     timeout-minutes: 25
     env:
+      RUST_HOST: ${{ matrix.host }}
       TARGET: ${{ matrix.target }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@3d3c42e5aac5ba805825da76410c181273ba90b1 # v7.0.1
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index d99c58496776..56a782ffbffb 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -24,16 +24,18 @@ default-target = "x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"
 targets = [
     # Note: Keep this in sync with ci/verify-build.py
     #
-    # Tier 1
+    # Tier 1 with host tools
     "aarch64-apple-darwin",
     "aarch64-pc-windows-msvc",
     "aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu",
-    "i686-pc-windows-msvc",
     "i686-unknown-linux-gnu",
     "x86_64-pc-windows-gnu",
     "x86_64-pc-windows-msvc",
     "x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu",
     #
+    # Tier 1 without host tools
+    "i686-pc-windows-msvc",
+    #
     # Tier 2 with host tools
     "aarch64-pc-windows-gnullvm",
     "aarch64-unknown-linux-musl",
diff --git a/ci/install-rust.sh b/ci/install-rust.sh
index b40f1df4e7a5..9425d1a694d1 100755
--- a/ci/install-rust.sh
+++ b/ci/install-rust.sh
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ case "$(uname -s)" in
 esac
 
 if [ "$os" = "windows" ] && [ -n "${TARGET:-}" ]; then
-    toolchain="$toolchain-$TARGET"
+    toolchain="$toolchain-${RUST_HOST:-$TARGET}"
     rustup set profile minimal
 fi
 
diff --git a/ci/verify-build.py b/ci/verify-build.py
index c7f12fd77591..14ee05a2cea4 100755
--- a/ci/verify-build.py
+++ b/ci/verify-build.py
@@ -80,16 +80,18 @@ class TargetResult:
 FREEBSD_VERSIONS = [11, 12, 13, 14, 15]
 
 TARGETS = [
-    # Tier 1
+    # Tier 1 with host tools
     Target("aarch64-apple-darwin"),
     Target("aarch64-pc-windows-msvc"),
     Target("aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu"),
-    Target("i686-pc-windows-msvc"),
     Target("i686-unknown-linux-gnu"),
     Target("x86_64-pc-windows-gnu"),
     Target("x86_64-pc-windows-msvc"),
     Target("x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"),
     #
+    # Tier 1 without host tools
+    Target("i686-pc-windows-msvc"),
+    #
     # Tier 2 with host tools
     Target("aarch64-pc-windows-gnullvm", min_toolchain=Toolchain.STABLE),
     Target("aarch64-unknown-linux-musl"),