diff --git a/src/Compilation.zig b/src/Compilation.zig
index ae3ab118b7..8382da2804 100644
--- a/src/Compilation.zig
+++ b/src/Compilation.zig
@@ -2384,7 +2384,6 @@ pub fn create(gpa: Allocator, arena: Allocator, options: CreateOptions) !*Compil
         };
         comp.c_object_table.putAssumeCapacityNoClobber(c_object, {});
     }
-    comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += @intCast(comp.c_object_table.count());
 
     // Add a `Win32Resource` for each `rc_source_files` and one for `manifest_file`.
     const win32_resource_count =
@@ -2392,10 +2391,6 @@ pub fn create(gpa: Allocator, arena: Allocator, options: CreateOptions) !*Compil
     if (win32_resource_count > 0) {
         dev.check(.win32_resource);
         try comp.win32_resource_table.ensureTotalCapacity(gpa, win32_resource_count);
-        // Add this after adding logic to updateWin32Resource to pass the
-        // result into link.loadInput. loadInput integration is not implemented
-        // for Windows linking logic yet.
-        //comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += @intCast(win32_resource_count);
         for (options.rc_source_files) |rc_source_file| {
             const win32_resource = try gpa.create(Win32Resource);
             errdefer gpa.destroy(win32_resource);
@@ -2454,58 +2449,47 @@ pub fn create(gpa: Allocator, arena: Allocator, options: CreateOptions) !*Compil
 
                     if (musl.needsCrt0(comp.config.output_mode, comp.config.link_mode, comp.config.pie)) |f| {
                         comp.queued_jobs.musl_crt_file[@intFromEnum(f)] = true;
-                        comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 1;
                     }
                     switch (comp.config.link_mode) {
                         .static => comp.queued_jobs.musl_crt_file[@intFromEnum(musl.CrtFile.libc_a)] = true,
                         .dynamic => comp.queued_jobs.musl_crt_file[@intFromEnum(musl.CrtFile.libc_so)] = true,
                     }
-                    comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 1;
                 } else if (target.isGnuLibC()) {
                     if (!std.zig.target.canBuildLibC(target)) return error.LibCUnavailable;
 
                     if (glibc.needsCrt0(comp.config.output_mode)) |f| {
                         comp.queued_jobs.glibc_crt_file[@intFromEnum(f)] = true;
-                        comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 1;
                     }
                     comp.queued_jobs.glibc_shared_objects = true;
-                    comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += glibc.sharedObjectsCount(target);
 
                     comp.queued_jobs.glibc_crt_file[@intFromEnum(glibc.CrtFile.libc_nonshared_a)] = true;
-                    comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 1;
                 } else if (target.isFreeBSDLibC()) {
                     if (!std.zig.target.canBuildLibC(target)) return error.LibCUnavailable;
 
                     if (freebsd.needsCrt0(comp.config.output_mode)) |f| {
                         comp.queued_jobs.freebsd_crt_file[@intFromEnum(f)] = true;
-                        comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 1;
                     }
 
                     comp.queued_jobs.freebsd_shared_objects = true;
-                    comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += freebsd.sharedObjectsCount();
                 } else if (target.isNetBSDLibC()) {
                     if (!std.zig.target.canBuildLibC(target)) return error.LibCUnavailable;
 
                     if (netbsd.needsCrt0(comp.config.output_mode)) |f| {
                         comp.queued_jobs.netbsd_crt_file[@intFromEnum(f)] = true;
-                        comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 1;
                     }
 
                     comp.queued_jobs.netbsd_shared_objects = true;
-                    comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += netbsd.sharedObjectsCount();
                 } else if (target.isWasiLibC()) {
                     if (!std.zig.target.canBuildLibC(target)) return error.LibCUnavailable;
 
                     comp.queued_jobs.wasi_libc_crt_file[@intFromEnum(wasi_libc.execModelCrtFile(comp.config.wasi_exec_model))] = true;
                     comp.queued_jobs.wasi_libc_crt_file[@intFromEnum(wasi_libc.CrtFile.libc_a)] = true;
-                    comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 2;
                 } else if (target.isMinGW()) {
                     if (!std.zig.target.canBuildLibC(target)) return error.LibCUnavailable;
 
                     const main_crt_file: mingw.CrtFile = if (is_dyn_lib) .dllcrt2_o else .crt2_o;
                     comp.queued_jobs.mingw_crt_file[@intFromEnum(main_crt_file)] = true;
                     comp.queued_jobs.mingw_crt_file[@intFromEnum(mingw.CrtFile.libmingw32_lib)] = true;
-                    comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 2;
 
                     // When linking mingw-w64 there are some import libs we always need.
                     try comp.windows_libs.ensureUnusedCapacity(gpa, mingw.always_link_libs.len);
@@ -2519,7 +2503,6 @@ pub fn create(gpa: Allocator, arena: Allocator, options: CreateOptions) !*Compil
                     target.isMinGW())
                 {
                     comp.queued_jobs.zigc_lib = true;
-                    comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 1;
                 }
             }
 
@@ -2536,50 +2519,41 @@ pub fn create(gpa: Allocator, arena: Allocator, options: CreateOptions) !*Compil
             }
             if (comp.wantBuildLibUnwindFromSource()) {
                 comp.queued_jobs.libunwind = true;
-                comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 1;
             }
             if (build_options.have_llvm and is_exe_or_dyn_lib and comp.config.link_libcpp) {
                 comp.queued_jobs.libcxx = true;
                 comp.queued_jobs.libcxxabi = true;
-                comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 2;
             }
             if (build_options.have_llvm and is_exe_or_dyn_lib and comp.config.any_sanitize_thread) {
                 comp.queued_jobs.libtsan = true;
-                comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 1;
             }
 
             if (can_build_compiler_rt) {
                 if (comp.compiler_rt_strat == .lib) {
                     log.debug("queuing a job to build compiler_rt_lib", .{});
                     comp.queued_jobs.compiler_rt_lib = true;
-                    comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 1;
                 } else if (comp.compiler_rt_strat == .obj) {
                     log.debug("queuing a job to build compiler_rt_obj", .{});
                     // In this case we are making a static library, so we ask
                     // for a compiler-rt object to put in it.
                     comp.queued_jobs.compiler_rt_obj = true;
-                    comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 1;
                 } else if (comp.compiler_rt_strat == .dyn_lib) {
                     // hack for stage2_x86_64 + coff
                     log.debug("queuing a job to build compiler_rt_dyn_lib", .{});
                     comp.queued_jobs.compiler_rt_dyn_lib = true;
-                    comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 1;
                 }
 
                 if (comp.ubsan_rt_strat == .lib) {
                     log.debug("queuing a job to build ubsan_rt_lib", .{});
                     comp.queued_jobs.ubsan_rt_lib = true;
-                    comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 1;
                 } else if (comp.ubsan_rt_strat == .obj) {
                     log.debug("queuing a job to build ubsan_rt_obj", .{});
                     comp.queued_jobs.ubsan_rt_obj = true;
-                    comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 1;
                 }
 
                 if (is_exe_or_dyn_lib and comp.config.any_fuzz) {
                     log.debug("queuing a job to build libfuzzer", .{});
                     comp.queued_jobs.fuzzer_lib = true;
-                    comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks += 1;
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -2587,8 +2561,6 @@ pub fn create(gpa: Allocator, arena: Allocator, options: CreateOptions) !*Compil
         try comp.link_task_queue.queued_prelink.append(gpa, .load_explicitly_provided);
     }
     log.debug("queued prelink tasks: {d}", .{comp.link_task_queue.queued_prelink.items.len});
-    log.debug("pending prelink tasks: {d}", .{comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks});
-
     return comp;
 }
 
@@ -4408,10 +4380,8 @@ fn performAllTheWork(
     comp.link_task_wait_group.reset();
     defer comp.link_task_wait_group.wait();
 
-    comp.link_prog_node.increaseEstimatedTotalItems(
-        comp.link_task_queue.queued_prelink.items.len + // already queued prelink tasks
-            comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks, // prelink tasks which will be queued
-    );
+    // Already-queued prelink tasks
+    comp.link_prog_node.increaseEstimatedTotalItems(comp.link_task_queue.queued_prelink.items.len);
     comp.link_task_queue.start(comp);
 
     if (comp.emit_docs != null) {
@@ -4427,6 +4397,7 @@ fn performAllTheWork(
         // compiler-rt due to LLD bugs as well, e.g.:
         //
         // https://github.com/llvm/llvm-project/issues/43698#issuecomment-2542660611
+        comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
         comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildRt, .{
             comp,
             "compiler_rt.zig",
@@ -4444,6 +4415,7 @@ fn performAllTheWork(
     }
 
     if (comp.queued_jobs.compiler_rt_obj and comp.compiler_rt_obj == null) {
+        comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
         comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildRt, .{
             comp,
             "compiler_rt.zig",
@@ -4462,6 +4434,7 @@ fn performAllTheWork(
 
     // hack for stage2_x86_64 + coff
     if (comp.queued_jobs.compiler_rt_dyn_lib and comp.compiler_rt_dyn_lib == null) {
+        comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
         comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildRt, .{
             comp,
             "compiler_rt.zig",
@@ -4479,6 +4452,7 @@ fn performAllTheWork(
     }
 
     if (comp.queued_jobs.fuzzer_lib and comp.fuzzer_lib == null) {
+        comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
         comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildRt, .{
             comp,
             "fuzzer.zig",
@@ -4493,6 +4467,7 @@ fn performAllTheWork(
     }
 
     if (comp.queued_jobs.ubsan_rt_lib and comp.ubsan_rt_lib == null) {
+        comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
         comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildRt, .{
             comp,
             "ubsan_rt.zig",
@@ -4509,6 +4484,7 @@ fn performAllTheWork(
     }
 
     if (comp.queued_jobs.ubsan_rt_obj and comp.ubsan_rt_obj == null) {
+        comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
         comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildRt, .{
             comp,
             "ubsan_rt.zig",
@@ -4525,40 +4501,49 @@ fn performAllTheWork(
     }
 
     if (comp.queued_jobs.glibc_shared_objects) {
+        comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
         comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildGlibcSharedObjects, .{ comp, main_progress_node });
     }
 
     if (comp.queued_jobs.freebsd_shared_objects) {
+        comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
         comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildFreeBSDSharedObjects, .{ comp, main_progress_node });
     }
 
     if (comp.queued_jobs.netbsd_shared_objects) {
+        comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
         comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildNetBSDSharedObjects, .{ comp, main_progress_node });
     }
 
     if (comp.queued_jobs.libunwind) {
+        comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
         comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildLibUnwind, .{ comp, main_progress_node });
     }
 
     if (comp.queued_jobs.libcxx) {
+        comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
         comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildLibCxx, .{ comp, main_progress_node });
     }
 
     if (comp.queued_jobs.libcxxabi) {
+        comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
         comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildLibCxxAbi, .{ comp, main_progress_node });
     }
 
     if (comp.queued_jobs.libtsan) {
+        comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
         comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildLibTsan, .{ comp, main_progress_node });
     }
 
     if (comp.queued_jobs.zigc_lib and comp.zigc_static_lib == null) {
+        comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
         comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildLibZigC, .{ comp, main_progress_node });
     }
 
     for (0..@typeInfo(musl.CrtFile).@"enum".fields.len) |i| {
         if (comp.queued_jobs.musl_crt_file[i]) {
             const tag: musl.CrtFile = @enumFromInt(i);
+            comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
             comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildMuslCrtFile, .{ comp, tag, main_progress_node });
         }
     }
@@ -4566,6 +4551,7 @@ fn performAllTheWork(
     for (0..@typeInfo(glibc.CrtFile).@"enum".fields.len) |i| {
         if (comp.queued_jobs.glibc_crt_file[i]) {
             const tag: glibc.CrtFile = @enumFromInt(i);
+            comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
             comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildGlibcCrtFile, .{ comp, tag, main_progress_node });
         }
     }
@@ -4573,6 +4559,7 @@ fn performAllTheWork(
     for (0..@typeInfo(freebsd.CrtFile).@"enum".fields.len) |i| {
         if (comp.queued_jobs.freebsd_crt_file[i]) {
             const tag: freebsd.CrtFile = @enumFromInt(i);
+            comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
             comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildFreeBSDCrtFile, .{ comp, tag, main_progress_node });
         }
     }
@@ -4580,6 +4567,7 @@ fn performAllTheWork(
     for (0..@typeInfo(netbsd.CrtFile).@"enum".fields.len) |i| {
         if (comp.queued_jobs.netbsd_crt_file[i]) {
             const tag: netbsd.CrtFile = @enumFromInt(i);
+            comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
             comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildNetBSDCrtFile, .{ comp, tag, main_progress_node });
         }
     }
@@ -4587,6 +4575,7 @@ fn performAllTheWork(
     for (0..@typeInfo(wasi_libc.CrtFile).@"enum".fields.len) |i| {
         if (comp.queued_jobs.wasi_libc_crt_file[i]) {
             const tag: wasi_libc.CrtFile = @enumFromInt(i);
+            comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
             comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildWasiLibcCrtFile, .{ comp, tag, main_progress_node });
         }
     }
@@ -4594,6 +4583,7 @@ fn performAllTheWork(
     for (0..@typeInfo(mingw.CrtFile).@"enum".fields.len) |i| {
         if (comp.queued_jobs.mingw_crt_file[i]) {
             const tag: mingw.CrtFile = @enumFromInt(i);
+            comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
             comp.link_task_wait_group.spawnManager(buildMingwCrtFile, .{ comp, tag, main_progress_node });
         }
     }
@@ -4665,12 +4655,14 @@ fn performAllTheWork(
         }
 
         while (comp.c_object_work_queue.readItem()) |c_object| {
+            comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
             comp.thread_pool.spawnWg(&comp.link_task_wait_group, workerUpdateCObject, .{
                 comp, c_object, main_progress_node,
             });
         }
 
         while (comp.win32_resource_work_queue.readItem()) |win32_resource| {
+            comp.link_task_queue.startPrelinkItem();
             comp.thread_pool.spawnWg(&comp.link_task_wait_group, workerUpdateWin32Resource, .{
                 comp, win32_resource, main_progress_node,
             });
@@ -4773,15 +4765,14 @@ fn performAllTheWork(
         }
     };
 
+    // We aren't going to queue any more prelink tasks.
+    comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
+
     if (!comp.separateCodegenThreadOk()) {
         // Waits until all input files have been parsed.
         comp.link_task_wait_group.wait();
         comp.link_task_wait_group.reset();
         std.log.scoped(.link).debug("finished waiting for link_task_wait_group", .{});
-        if (comp.link_task_queue.pending_prelink_tasks > 0) {
-            // Indicates an error occurred preventing prelink phase from completing.
-            return;
-        }
     }
 
     if (comp.zcu != null) {
@@ -5568,6 +5559,7 @@ fn workerUpdateCObject(
     c_object: *CObject,
     progress_node: std.Progress.Node,
 ) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     comp.updateCObject(c_object, progress_node) catch |err| switch (err) {
         error.AnalysisFail => return,
         else => {
@@ -5585,6 +5577,7 @@ fn workerUpdateWin32Resource(
     win32_resource: *Win32Resource,
     progress_node: std.Progress.Node,
 ) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     comp.updateWin32Resource(win32_resource, progress_node) catch |err| switch (err) {
         error.AnalysisFail => return,
         else => {
@@ -5628,6 +5621,7 @@ fn buildRt(
     options: RtOptions,
     out: *?CrtFile,
 ) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     comp.buildOutputFromZig(
         root_source_name,
         root_name,
@@ -5646,6 +5640,7 @@ fn buildRt(
 }
 
 fn buildMuslCrtFile(comp: *Compilation, crt_file: musl.CrtFile, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     if (musl.buildCrtFile(comp, crt_file, prog_node)) |_| {
         comp.queued_jobs.musl_crt_file[@intFromEnum(crt_file)] = false;
     } else |err| switch (err) {
@@ -5657,6 +5652,7 @@ fn buildMuslCrtFile(comp: *Compilation, crt_file: musl.CrtFile, prog_node: std.P
 }
 
 fn buildGlibcCrtFile(comp: *Compilation, crt_file: glibc.CrtFile, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     if (glibc.buildCrtFile(comp, crt_file, prog_node)) |_| {
         comp.queued_jobs.glibc_crt_file[@intFromEnum(crt_file)] = false;
     } else |err| switch (err) {
@@ -5668,6 +5664,7 @@ fn buildGlibcCrtFile(comp: *Compilation, crt_file: glibc.CrtFile, prog_node: std
 }
 
 fn buildGlibcSharedObjects(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     if (glibc.buildSharedObjects(comp, prog_node)) |_| {
         // The job should no longer be queued up since it succeeded.
         comp.queued_jobs.glibc_shared_objects = false;
@@ -5680,6 +5677,7 @@ fn buildGlibcSharedObjects(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) voi
 }
 
 fn buildFreeBSDCrtFile(comp: *Compilation, crt_file: freebsd.CrtFile, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     if (freebsd.buildCrtFile(comp, crt_file, prog_node)) |_| {
         comp.queued_jobs.freebsd_crt_file[@intFromEnum(crt_file)] = false;
     } else |err| switch (err) {
@@ -5691,6 +5689,7 @@ fn buildFreeBSDCrtFile(comp: *Compilation, crt_file: freebsd.CrtFile, prog_node:
 }
 
 fn buildFreeBSDSharedObjects(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     if (freebsd.buildSharedObjects(comp, prog_node)) |_| {
         // The job should no longer be queued up since it succeeded.
         comp.queued_jobs.freebsd_shared_objects = false;
@@ -5703,6 +5702,7 @@ fn buildFreeBSDSharedObjects(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) v
 }
 
 fn buildNetBSDCrtFile(comp: *Compilation, crt_file: netbsd.CrtFile, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     if (netbsd.buildCrtFile(comp, crt_file, prog_node)) |_| {
         comp.queued_jobs.netbsd_crt_file[@intFromEnum(crt_file)] = false;
     } else |err| switch (err) {
@@ -5714,6 +5714,7 @@ fn buildNetBSDCrtFile(comp: *Compilation, crt_file: netbsd.CrtFile, prog_node: s
 }
 
 fn buildNetBSDSharedObjects(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     if (netbsd.buildSharedObjects(comp, prog_node)) |_| {
         // The job should no longer be queued up since it succeeded.
         comp.queued_jobs.netbsd_shared_objects = false;
@@ -5726,6 +5727,7 @@ fn buildNetBSDSharedObjects(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) vo
 }
 
 fn buildMingwCrtFile(comp: *Compilation, crt_file: mingw.CrtFile, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     if (mingw.buildCrtFile(comp, crt_file, prog_node)) |_| {
         comp.queued_jobs.mingw_crt_file[@intFromEnum(crt_file)] = false;
     } else |err| switch (err) {
@@ -5737,6 +5739,7 @@ fn buildMingwCrtFile(comp: *Compilation, crt_file: mingw.CrtFile, prog_node: std
 }
 
 fn buildWasiLibcCrtFile(comp: *Compilation, crt_file: wasi_libc.CrtFile, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     if (wasi_libc.buildCrtFile(comp, crt_file, prog_node)) |_| {
         comp.queued_jobs.wasi_libc_crt_file[@intFromEnum(crt_file)] = false;
     } else |err| switch (err) {
@@ -5748,6 +5751,7 @@ fn buildWasiLibcCrtFile(comp: *Compilation, crt_file: wasi_libc.CrtFile, prog_no
 }
 
 fn buildLibUnwind(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     if (libunwind.buildStaticLib(comp, prog_node)) |_| {
         comp.queued_jobs.libunwind = false;
     } else |err| switch (err) {
@@ -5757,6 +5761,7 @@ fn buildLibUnwind(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
 }
 
 fn buildLibCxx(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     if (libcxx.buildLibCxx(comp, prog_node)) |_| {
         comp.queued_jobs.libcxx = false;
     } else |err| switch (err) {
@@ -5766,6 +5771,7 @@ fn buildLibCxx(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
 }
 
 fn buildLibCxxAbi(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     if (libcxx.buildLibCxxAbi(comp, prog_node)) |_| {
         comp.queued_jobs.libcxxabi = false;
     } else |err| switch (err) {
@@ -5775,6 +5781,7 @@ fn buildLibCxxAbi(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
 }
 
 fn buildLibTsan(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     if (libtsan.buildTsan(comp, prog_node)) |_| {
         comp.queued_jobs.libtsan = false;
     } else |err| switch (err) {
@@ -5784,6 +5791,7 @@ fn buildLibTsan(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
 }
 
 fn buildLibZigC(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) void {
+    defer comp.link_task_queue.finishPrelinkItem(comp);
     comp.buildOutputFromZig(
         "c.zig",
         "zigc",
@@ -7721,6 +7729,7 @@ pub fn queuePrelinkTaskMode(comp: *Compilation, path: Cache.Path, config: *const
 /// Only valid to call during `update`. Automatically handles queuing up a
 /// linker worker task if there is not already one.
 pub fn queuePrelinkTasks(comp: *Compilation, tasks: []const link.PrelinkTask) void {
+    comp.link_prog_node.increaseEstimatedTotalItems(tasks.len);
     comp.link_task_queue.enqueuePrelink(comp, tasks) catch |err| switch (err) {
         error.OutOfMemory => return comp.setAllocFailure(),
     };
diff --git a/src/libs/freebsd.zig b/src/libs/freebsd.zig
index 6baa899087..0e8e8f850b 100644
--- a/src/libs/freebsd.zig
+++ b/src/libs/freebsd.zig
@@ -977,10 +977,6 @@ pub fn buildSharedObjects(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) anye
     });
 }
 
-pub fn sharedObjectsCount() u8 {
-    return libs.len;
-}
-
 fn queueSharedObjects(comp: *Compilation, so_files: BuiltSharedObjects) void {
     assert(comp.freebsd_so_files == null);
     comp.freebsd_so_files = so_files;
diff --git a/src/libs/glibc.zig b/src/libs/glibc.zig
index 43baaf38d4..5518dc9321 100644
--- a/src/libs/glibc.zig
+++ b/src/libs/glibc.zig
@@ -1130,18 +1130,6 @@ pub fn buildSharedObjects(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) anye
     });
 }
 
-pub fn sharedObjectsCount(target: *const std.Target) u8 {
-    const target_version = target.os.versionRange().gnuLibCVersion() orelse return 0;
-    var count: u8 = 0;
-    for (libs) |lib| {
-        if (lib.removed_in) |rem_in| {
-            if (target_version.order(rem_in) != .lt) continue;
-        }
-        count += 1;
-    }
-    return count;
-}
-
 fn queueSharedObjects(comp: *Compilation, so_files: BuiltSharedObjects) void {
     const target_version = comp.getTarget().os.versionRange().gnuLibCVersion().?;
 
diff --git a/src/libs/netbsd.zig b/src/libs/netbsd.zig
index 094165b9c5..945c6853a0 100644
--- a/src/libs/netbsd.zig
+++ b/src/libs/netbsd.zig
@@ -642,10 +642,6 @@ pub fn buildSharedObjects(comp: *Compilation, prog_node: std.Progress.Node) anye
     });
 }
 
-pub fn sharedObjectsCount() u8 {
-    return libs.len;
-}
-
 fn queueSharedObjects(comp: *Compilation, so_files: BuiltSharedObjects) void {
     assert(comp.netbsd_so_files == null);
     comp.netbsd_so_files = so_files;
diff --git a/src/link/Queue.zig b/src/link/Queue.zig
index d1595636ac..9f4535e1fe 100644
--- a/src/link/Queue.zig
+++ b/src/link/Queue.zig
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ mutex: std.Thread.Mutex,
 /// Validates that only one `flushTaskQueue` thread is running at a time.
 flush_safety: std.debug.SafetyLock,
 
-/// This is the number of prelink tasks which are expected but have not yet been enqueued.
-/// Guarded by `mutex`.
-pending_prelink_tasks: u32,
+/// This value is positive while there are still prelink tasks yet to be queued. Once they are
+/// all queued, this value becomes 0, and ZCU tasks can be run. Guarded by `mutex`.
+prelink_wait_count: u32,
 
 /// Prelink tasks which have been enqueued and are not yet owned by the worker thread.
 /// Allocated into `gpa`, guarded by `mutex`.
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ state: union(enum) {
     /// The link thread is currently running or queued to run.
     running,
     /// The link thread is not running or queued, because it has exhausted all immediately available
-    /// tasks. It should be spawned when more tasks are enqueued. If `pending_prelink_tasks` is not
+    /// tasks. It should be spawned when more tasks are enqueued. If `prelink_wait_count` is not
     /// zero, we are specifically waiting for prelink tasks.
     finished,
     /// The link thread is not running or queued, because it is waiting for this MIR to be populated.
@@ -73,11 +73,11 @@ state: union(enum) {
 const max_air_bytes_in_flight = 10 * 1024 * 1024;
 
 /// The initial `Queue` state, containing no tasks, expecting no prelink tasks, and with no running worker thread.
-/// The `pending_prelink_tasks` and `queued_prelink` fields may be modified as needed before calling `start`.
+/// The `queued_prelink` field may be appended to before calling `start`.
 pub const empty: Queue = .{
     .mutex = .{},
     .flush_safety = .{},
-    .pending_prelink_tasks = 0,
+    .prelink_wait_count = undefined, // set in `start`
     .queued_prelink = .empty,
     .wip_prelink = .empty,
     .queued_zcu = .empty,
@@ -100,17 +100,49 @@ pub fn deinit(q: *Queue, comp: *Compilation) void {
 }
 
 /// This is expected to be called exactly once, after which the caller must not directly access
-/// `queued_prelink` or `pending_prelink_tasks` any longer. This will spawn the link thread if
-/// necessary.
+/// `queued_prelink` any longer. This will spawn the link thread if necessary.
 pub fn start(q: *Queue, comp: *Compilation) void {
     assert(q.state == .finished);
     assert(q.queued_zcu.items.len == 0);
+    // Reset this to 1. We can't init it to 1 in `empty`, because it would fall to 0 on successive
+    // incremental updates, but we still need the initial 1.
+    q.prelink_wait_count = 1;
     if (q.queued_prelink.items.len != 0) {
         q.state = .running;
         comp.thread_pool.spawnWgId(&comp.link_task_wait_group, flushTaskQueue, .{ q, comp });
     }
 }
 
+/// Every call to this must be paired with a call to `finishPrelinkItem`.
+pub fn startPrelinkItem(q: *Queue) void {
+    q.mutex.lock();
+    defer q.mutex.unlock();
+    assert(q.prelink_wait_count > 0); // must not have finished everything already
+    q.prelink_wait_count += 1;
+}
+/// This function must be called exactly one more time than `startPrelinkItem` is. The final call
+/// indicates that we have finished calling `startPrelinkItem`, so once all pending items finish,
+/// we are ready to move on to ZCU tasks.
+pub fn finishPrelinkItem(q: *Queue, comp: *Compilation) void {
+    {
+        q.mutex.lock();
+        defer q.mutex.unlock();
+        q.prelink_wait_count -= 1;
+        if (q.prelink_wait_count != 0) return;
+        // The prelink task count dropped to 0; restart the linker thread if necessary.
+        switch (q.state) {
+            .wait_for_mir => unreachable, // we've not started zcu tasks yet
+            .running => return,
+            .finished => {},
+        }
+        assert(q.queued_prelink.items.len == 0);
+        // Even if there are no ZCU tasks, we must restart the linker thread to make sure
+        // that `link.File.prelink()` is called.
+        q.state = .running;
+    }
+    comp.thread_pool.spawnWgId(&comp.link_task_wait_group, flushTaskQueue, .{ q, comp });
+}
+
 /// Called by codegen workers after they have populated a `ZcuTask.LinkFunc.SharedMir`. If the link
 /// thread was waiting for this MIR, it can resume.
 pub fn mirReady(q: *Queue, comp: *Compilation, func_index: InternPool.Index, mir: *ZcuTask.LinkFunc.SharedMir) void {
@@ -130,14 +162,14 @@ pub fn mirReady(q: *Queue, comp: *Compilation, func_index: InternPool.Index, mir
     comp.thread_pool.spawnWgId(&comp.link_task_wait_group, flushTaskQueue, .{ q, comp });
 }
 
-/// Enqueues all prelink tasks in `tasks`. Asserts that they were expected, i.e. that `tasks.len` is
-/// less than or equal to `q.pending_prelink_tasks`. Also asserts that `tasks.len` is not 0.
+/// Enqueues all prelink tasks in `tasks`. Asserts that they were expected, i.e. that
+/// `prelink_wait_count` is not yet 0. Also asserts that `tasks.len` is not 0.
 pub fn enqueuePrelink(q: *Queue, comp: *Compilation, tasks: []const PrelinkTask) Allocator.Error!void {
     {
         q.mutex.lock();
         defer q.mutex.unlock();
+        assert(q.prelink_wait_count > 0);
         try q.queued_prelink.appendSlice(comp.gpa, tasks);
-        q.pending_prelink_tasks -= @intCast(tasks.len);
         switch (q.state) {
             .wait_for_mir => unreachable, // we've not started zcu tasks yet
             .running => return,
@@ -167,7 +199,7 @@ pub fn enqueueZcu(q: *Queue, comp: *Compilation, task: ZcuTask) Allocator.Error!
         try q.queued_zcu.append(comp.gpa, task);
         switch (q.state) {
             .running, .wait_for_mir => return,
-            .finished => if (q.pending_prelink_tasks != 0) return,
+            .finished => if (q.prelink_wait_count > 0) return,
         }
         // Restart the linker thread, unless it would immediately be blocked
         if (task == .link_func and task.link_func.mir.status.load(.acquire) == .pending) {
@@ -194,7 +226,7 @@ fn flushTaskQueue(tid: usize, q: *Queue, comp: *Compilation) void {
             defer q.mutex.unlock();
             std.mem.swap(std.ArrayListUnmanaged(PrelinkTask), &q.queued_prelink, &q.wip_prelink);
             if (q.wip_prelink.items.len == 0) {
-                if (q.pending_prelink_tasks == 0) {
+                if (q.prelink_wait_count == 0) {
                     break :prelink; // prelink is done
                 } else {
                     // We're expecting more prelink tasks so can't move on to ZCU tasks.