diff --git a/.bazelrc b/.bazelrc
index 2af5b640afa..16ba84be628 100644
--- a/.bazelrc
+++ b/.bazelrc
@@ -249,6 +249,9 @@ build:linux --linkopt="-Wl,--gc-sections"
 build:linux --copt="-ffunction-sections" --host_copt="-ffunction-sections"
 build:linux --copt="-fdata-sections" --host_copt="-fdata-sections"
 
+# On Linux, use clang lld.
+build:linux --linkopt="-fuse-ld=lld"
+
 #
 # Windows
 #
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 519265b48a6..709a3c76b3c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -74,9 +74,9 @@ To build `workerd`, you need:
 * On Linux:
   * We use the clang/LLVM toolchain to build workerd and support version 16 and higher. Earlier versions of clang may still work, but are not officially supported.
   * Clang 16+ (e.g. package `clang-16` on Debian Bookworm). If clang is installed as `clang-<version>` please create a symlink to it in your PATH named `clang`, or use `--action_env=CC=clang-<version>` on `bazel` command lines to specify the compiler name.
-  
+
   * libc++ 16+ (e.g. packages `libc++-16-dev` and `libc++abi-16-dev`)
-  * LLD 16+ (e.g. package `lld-16`). The build may still succeed if a recent version of GNU gold or the system linker is installed, but lld is highly recommended for link performance.
+  * LLD 16+ (e.g. package `lld-16`).
   * `python3`, `python3-distutils`, and `tcl8.6`
 * On macOS:
   * Xcode 15 installation (available on macOS 13 and higher). **Full Xcode is required**, the Xcode command line tools alone are **not sufficient** for building.