diff --git a/run_unittests.py b/run_unittests.py
index 23b8f2c7a3a5..90d4a6289254 100755
--- a/run_unittests.py
+++ b/run_unittests.py
@@ -5206,6 +5206,18 @@ def test_std_remains(self):
         self.assertRegex(compdb[0]['command'], '-std=c99')
         self.build()
 
+    def test_identity_cross(self):
+        testdir = os.path.join(self.unit_test_dir, '58 identity cross')
+        crossfile = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode='w')
+        os.environ['CC'] = '"' + os.path.join(testdir, 'build_wrapper.py') + '"'
+        crossfile.write('''[binaries]
+c = ['{0}']
+'''.format(os.path.join(testdir, 'host_wrapper.py')))
+        crossfile.flush()
+        self.meson_cross_file = crossfile.name
+        # TODO should someday be explicit about build platform only here
+        self.init(testdir)
+
 def should_run_cross_arm_tests():
     return shutil.which('arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc') and not platform.machine().lower().startswith('arm')
 
diff --git a/test cases/unit/58 identity cross/build_wrapper.py b/test cases/unit/58 identity cross/build_wrapper.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000000..22e8b5dc12a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/unit/58 identity cross/build_wrapper.py	
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import subprocess, sys
+
+subprocess.call(["cc", "-DEXTERNAL_BUILD"] + sys.argv[1:])
diff --git a/test cases/unit/58 identity cross/host_wrapper.py b/test cases/unit/58 identity cross/host_wrapper.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000000..5b4eed8be974
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/unit/58 identity cross/host_wrapper.py	
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import subprocess, sys
+
+subprocess.call(["cc", "-DEXTERNAL_HOST"] + sys.argv[1:])
diff --git a/test cases/unit/58 identity cross/meson.build b/test cases/unit/58 identity cross/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..950137a18eac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/unit/58 identity cross/meson.build	
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+project('identity cross test', 'c')
+
+assert(meson.get_compiler('c', native: true).get_define(
+  'GOT',
+  args : [ '-DARG_BUILD' ],
+  prefix : '#include "stuff.h"',
+  include_directories: include_directories('.'),
+) == 'BUILD', 'did not get BUILD from native: true compiler')
+
+assert(meson.get_compiler('c', native: false).get_define(
+  'GOT',
+  args : [ '-DARG_HOST' ],
+  prefix : '#include "stuff.h"',
+  include_directories: include_directories('.'),
+) == 'HOST', 'did not get HOST from native: false compiler')
diff --git a/test cases/unit/58 identity cross/stuff.h b/test cases/unit/58 identity cross/stuff.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..62f1cc9e6b8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/unit/58 identity cross/stuff.h	
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#ifdef EXTERNAL_BUILD
+  #ifndef ARG_BUILD
+    #error "External is build but arg_build is not set."
+  #elif defined(ARG_HOST)
+    #error "External is build but arg_host is set."
+  #else
+    #define GOT BUILD
+  #endif
+#endif
+
+#ifdef EXTERNAL_HOST
+  #ifndef ARG_HOST
+    #error "External is host but arg_host is not set."
+  #elif defined(ARG_BUILD)
+    #error "External is host but arg_build is set."
+  #else
+    #define GOT HOST
+  #endif
+#endif
+
+#if defined(EXTERNAL_BUILD) && defined(EXTERNAL_HOST)
+  #error "Both external build and external host set."
+#endif
+
+#if !defined(EXTERNAL_BUILD) && !defined(EXTERNAL_HOST)
+  #error "Neither external build nor external host is set."
+#endif