diff --git a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/solve/trait_goals/structural_traits.rs b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/solve/trait_goals/structural_traits.rs
index f7d1b4be74b..d7d93377cf1 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/solve/trait_goals/structural_traits.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/solve/trait_goals/structural_traits.rs
@@ -21,12 +21,14 @@ pub(super) fn instantiate_constituent_tys_for_auto_trait<'tcx>(
         | ty::Float(_)
         | ty::FnDef(..)
         | ty::FnPtr(_)
-        | ty::Str
         | ty::Error(_)
         | ty::Infer(ty::IntVar(_) | ty::FloatVar(_))
         | ty::Never
         | ty::Char => Ok(vec![]),
 
+        // Treat this like `struct str([u8]);`
+        ty::Str => Ok(vec![tcx.mk_slice(tcx.types.u8)]),
+
         ty::Dynamic(..)
         | ty::Param(..)
         | ty::Foreign(..)
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/traits/error_reporting/suggestions.rs b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/traits/error_reporting/suggestions.rs
index 1272d942b14..66d74fd05a6 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/traits/error_reporting/suggestions.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/traits/error_reporting/suggestions.rs
@@ -3107,6 +3107,7 @@ fn note_obligation_cause_code<T>(
                                 self.tcx.def_span(def_id),
                                 "required because it's used within this closure",
                             ),
+                            ty::Str => err.note("`str` is considered to contain a `[u8]` slice for auto trait purposes"),
                             _ => err.note(&msg),
                         };
                     }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/traits/select/mod.rs b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/traits/select/mod.rs
index a2c16e6d0b4..01c1ad3a4ce 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/traits/select/mod.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/traits/select/mod.rs
@@ -2300,12 +2300,14 @@ fn constituent_types_for_ty(
             | ty::Float(_)
             | ty::FnDef(..)
             | ty::FnPtr(_)
-            | ty::Str
             | ty::Error(_)
             | ty::Infer(ty::IntVar(_) | ty::FloatVar(_))
             | ty::Never
             | ty::Char => ty::Binder::dummy(Vec::new()),
 
+            // Treat this like `struct str([u8]);`
+            ty::Str => ty::Binder::dummy(vec![self.tcx().mk_slice(self.tcx().types.u8)]),
+
             ty::Placeholder(..)
             | ty::Dynamic(..)
             | ty::Param(..)
diff --git a/tests/ui/auto-traits/str-contains-slice-conceptually.rs b/tests/ui/auto-traits/str-contains-slice-conceptually.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6a16fdcf284
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui/auto-traits/str-contains-slice-conceptually.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#![feature(negative_impls)]
+#![feature(auto_traits)]
+
+auto trait AutoTrait {}
+
+impl<T> !AutoTrait for [T] {}
+
+fn needs_auto_trait<T: AutoTrait + ?Sized>() {}
+
+fn main() {
+  needs_auto_trait::<str>();
+  //~^ ERROR the trait bound `[u8]: AutoTrait` is not satisfied in `str`
+}
diff --git a/tests/ui/auto-traits/str-contains-slice-conceptually.stderr b/tests/ui/auto-traits/str-contains-slice-conceptually.stderr
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1cf16cebddd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui/auto-traits/str-contains-slice-conceptually.stderr
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+error[E0277]: the trait bound `[u8]: AutoTrait` is not satisfied in `str`
+  --> $DIR/str-contains-slice-conceptually.rs:11:22
+   |
+LL |   needs_auto_trait::<str>();
+   |                      ^^^ within `str`, the trait `AutoTrait` is not implemented for `[u8]`
+   |
+   = note: `str` is considered to contain a `[u8]` slice for auto trait purposes
+note: required by a bound in `needs_auto_trait`
+  --> $DIR/str-contains-slice-conceptually.rs:8:24
+   |
+LL | fn needs_auto_trait<T: AutoTrait + ?Sized>() {}
+   |                        ^^^^^^^^^ required by this bound in `needs_auto_trait`
+
+error: aborting due to previous error
+
+For more information about this error, try `rustc --explain E0277`.