diff --git a/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/link.rs b/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/link.rs
index 0dc0dee862c..4c58d0b53f0 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/link.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/link.rs
@@ -919,29 +919,17 @@ fn is_illegal_instruction(_status: &ExitStatus) -> bool {
                         )
                         .is_some();
 
-                        sess.note_without_error("`link.exe` returned an unexpected error");
+                        sess.emit_note(errors::LinkExeUnexpectedError);
                         if is_vs_installed && has_linker {
                             // the linker is broken
-                            sess.note_without_error(
-                                "the Visual Studio build tools may need to be repaired \
-                                using the Visual Studio installer",
-                            );
-                            sess.note_without_error(
-                                "or a necessary component may be missing from the \
-                                \"C++ build tools\" workload",
-                            );
+                            sess.emit_note(errors::RepairVSBuildTools);
+                            sess.emit_note(errors::MissingCppBuildToolComponent);
                         } else if is_vs_installed {
                             // the linker is not installed
-                            sess.note_without_error(
-                                "in the Visual Studio installer, ensure the \
-                                \"C++ build tools\" workload is selected",
-                            );
+                            sess.emit_note(errors::SelectCppBuildToolWorkload);
                         } else {
                             // visual studio is not installed
-                            sess.note_without_error(
-                                "you may need to install Visual Studio build tools with the \
-                                \"C++ build tools\" workload",
-                            );
+                            sess.emit_note(errors::VisualStudioNotInstalled);
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -954,35 +942,20 @@ fn is_illegal_instruction(_status: &ExitStatus) -> bool {
         Err(e) => {
             let linker_not_found = e.kind() == io::ErrorKind::NotFound;
 
-            let mut linker_error = {
-                if linker_not_found {
-                    sess.struct_err(&format!("linker `{}` not found", linker_path.display()))
-                } else {
-                    sess.struct_err(&format!(
-                        "could not exec the linker `{}`",
-                        linker_path.display()
-                    ))
-                }
-            };
-
-            linker_error.note(&e.to_string());
-
-            if !linker_not_found {
-                linker_error.note(&format!("{:?}", &cmd));
+            if linker_not_found {
+                sess.emit_err(errors::LinkerNotFound { linker_path, error: e });
+            } else {
+                sess.emit_err(errors::UnableToExeLinker {
+                    linker_path,
+                    error: e,
+                    command_formatted: format!("{:?}", &cmd),
+                });
             }
 
-            linker_error.emit();
-
             if sess.target.is_like_msvc && linker_not_found {
-                sess.note_without_error(
-                    "the msvc targets depend on the msvc linker \
-                     but `link.exe` was not found",
-                );
-                sess.note_without_error(
-                    "please ensure that Visual Studio 2017 or later, or Build Tools \
-                     for Visual Studio were installed with the Visual C++ option.",
-                );
-                sess.note_without_error("VS Code is a different product, and is not sufficient.");
+                sess.emit_note(errors::MsvcMissingLinker);
+                sess.emit_note(errors::CheckInstalledVisualStudio);
+                sess.emit_note(errors::UnsufficientVSCodeProduct);
             }
             sess.abort_if_errors();
         }
@@ -1007,15 +980,13 @@ fn is_illegal_instruction(_status: &ExitStatus) -> bool {
                     if !prog.status.success() {
                         let mut output = prog.stderr.clone();
                         output.extend_from_slice(&prog.stdout);
-                        sess.struct_warn(&format!(
-                            "processing debug info with `dsymutil` failed: {}",
-                            prog.status
-                        ))
-                        .note(&escape_string(&output))
-                        .emit();
+                        sess.emit_warning(errors::ProcessingDymutilFailed {
+                            status: prog.status,
+                            output: escape_string(&output),
+                        });
                     }
                 }
-                Err(e) => sess.fatal(&format!("unable to run `dsymutil`: {}", e)),
+                Err(error) => sess.emit_fatal(errors::UnableToRunDsymutil { error }),
             }
         }
 
@@ -1092,21 +1063,21 @@ fn strip_symbols_with_external_utility<'a>(
             if !prog.status.success() {
                 let mut output = prog.stderr.clone();
                 output.extend_from_slice(&prog.stdout);
-                sess.struct_warn(&format!(
-                    "stripping debug info with `{}` failed: {}",
-                    util, prog.status
-                ))
-                .note(&escape_string(&output))
-                .emit();
+                sess.emit_warning(errors::StrippingDebuInfoFailed {
+                    util,
+                    status: prog.status,
+                    output: escape_string(&output),
+                });
             }
         }
-        Err(e) => sess.fatal(&format!("unable to run `{}`: {}", util, e)),
+        Err(error) => sess.emit_fatal(errors::UnableToRun { util, error }),
     }
 }
 
 fn escape_string(s: &[u8]) -> String {
     match str::from_utf8(s) {
         Ok(s) => s.to_owned(),
+        // FIXME: return a type that can conform to IntoDiagnosticArg
         Err(_) => format!("Non-UTF-8 output: {}", s.escape_ascii()),
     }
 }
@@ -1251,7 +1222,7 @@ fn infer_from(
             )),
             (Some(linker), None) => {
                 let stem = linker.file_stem().and_then(|stem| stem.to_str()).unwrap_or_else(|| {
-                    sess.fatal("couldn't extract file stem from specified linker")
+                    sess.emit_fatal(errors::LinkerFileStem);
                 });
 
                 let flavor = if stem == "emcc" {
@@ -1378,13 +1349,9 @@ fn print_native_static_libs(sess: &Session, all_native_libs: &[NativeLib]) {
         })
         .collect();
     if !lib_args.is_empty() {
-        sess.note_without_error(
-            "Link against the following native artifacts when linking \
-                                 against this static library. The order and any duplication \
-                                 can be significant on some platforms.",
-        );
+        sess.emit_note(errors::StaticLibraryNativeArtifacts);
         // Prefix for greppability
-        sess.note_without_error(&format!("native-static-libs: {}", &lib_args.join(" ")));
+        sess.emit_note(errors::NativeStaticLibs { arguments: lib_args.join(" ") });
     }
 }
 
@@ -1688,14 +1655,14 @@ fn add_link_script(cmd: &mut dyn Linker, sess: &Session, tmpdir: &Path, crate_ty
     match (crate_type, &sess.target.link_script) {
         (CrateType::Cdylib | CrateType::Executable, Some(script)) => {
             if !sess.target.linker_flavor.is_gnu() {
-                sess.fatal("can only use link script when linking with GNU-like linker");
+                sess.emit_fatal(errors::LinkScriptUnavailable);
             }
 
             let file_name = ["rustc", &sess.target.llvm_target, "linkfile.ld"].join("-");
 
             let path = tmpdir.join(file_name);
-            if let Err(e) = fs::write(&path, script.as_ref()) {
-                sess.fatal(&format!("failed to write link script to {}: {}", path.display(), e));
+            if let Err(error) = fs::write(&path, script.as_ref()) {
+                sess.emit_fatal(errors::LinkScriptWriteFailure { path, error });
             }
 
             cmd.arg("--script");
@@ -1841,8 +1808,8 @@ fn add_linked_symbol_object(
 
     let path = tmpdir.join("symbols.o");
     let result = std::fs::write(&path, file.write().unwrap());
-    if let Err(e) = result {
-        sess.fatal(&format!("failed to write {}: {}", path.display(), e));
+    if let Err(error) = result {
+        sess.emit_fatal(errors::FailedToWrite { path, error });
     }
     cmd.add_object(&path);
 }
@@ -2299,14 +2266,10 @@ fn collect_natvis_visualizers(
                 visualizer_paths.push(visualizer_out_file);
             }
             Err(error) => {
-                sess.warn(
-                    format!(
-                        "Unable to write debugger visualizer file `{}`: {} ",
-                        visualizer_out_file.display(),
-                        error
-                    )
-                    .as_str(),
-                );
+                sess.emit_warning(errors::UnableToWriteDebuggerVisualizer {
+                    path: visualizer_out_file,
+                    error,
+                });
             }
         };
     }
@@ -2641,7 +2604,7 @@ fn add_static_crate<'a>(
                 || !codegen_results.crate_info.is_no_builtins.contains(&cnum);
 
             let mut archive = archive_builder_builder.new_archive_builder(sess);
-            if let Err(e) = archive.add_archive(
+            if let Err(error) = archive.add_archive(
                 cratepath,
                 Box::new(move |f| {
                     if f == METADATA_FILENAME {
@@ -2681,7 +2644,7 @@ fn add_static_crate<'a>(
                     false
                 }),
             ) {
-                sess.fatal(&format!("failed to build archive from rlib: {}", e));
+                sess.emit_fatal(errors::RlibArchiveBuildFailure { error });
             }
             if archive.build(&dst) {
                 link_upstream(&dst);
@@ -2919,7 +2882,7 @@ fn add_gcc_ld_path(cmd: &mut dyn Linker, sess: &Session, flavor: LinkerFlavor) {
                 }
             }
         } else {
-            sess.fatal("option `-Z gcc-ld` is used even though linker flavor is not gcc");
+            sess.emit_fatal(errors::OptionGccOnly);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/errors.rs b/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/errors.rs
index ebb531f1c43..71fac123725 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/errors.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/errors.rs
@@ -354,3 +354,133 @@ fn into_diagnostic(self, handler: &Handler) -> DiagnosticBuilder<'_, ErrorGuaran
         diag
     }
 }
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_link_exe_unexpected_error)]
+pub struct LinkExeUnexpectedError;
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_repair_vs_build_tools)]
+pub struct RepairVSBuildTools;
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_missing_cpp_build_tool_component)]
+pub struct MissingCppBuildToolComponent;
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_select_cpp_build_tool_workload)]
+pub struct SelectCppBuildToolWorkload;
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_visual_studio_not_installed)]
+pub struct VisualStudioNotInstalled;
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_linker_not_found)]
+#[note]
+pub struct LinkerNotFound {
+    pub linker_path: PathBuf,
+    pub error: Error,
+}
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_unable_to_exe_linker)]
+#[note]
+#[note(command_note)]
+pub struct UnableToExeLinker {
+    pub linker_path: PathBuf,
+    pub error: Error,
+    pub command_formatted: String,
+}
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_msvc_missing_linker)]
+pub struct MsvcMissingLinker;
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_check_installed_visual_studio)]
+pub struct CheckInstalledVisualStudio;
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_unsufficient_vs_code_product)]
+pub struct UnsufficientVSCodeProduct;
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_processing_dymutil_failed)]
+#[note]
+pub struct ProcessingDymutilFailed {
+    pub status: ExitStatus,
+    pub output: String,
+}
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_unable_to_run_dsymutil)]
+#[note]
+pub struct UnableToRunDsymutil {
+    pub error: Error,
+}
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_stripping_debu_info_failed)]
+#[note]
+pub struct StrippingDebuInfoFailed<'a> {
+    pub util: &'a str,
+    pub status: ExitStatus,
+    pub output: String,
+}
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_unable_to_run)]
+pub struct UnableToRun<'a> {
+    pub util: &'a str,
+    pub error: Error,
+}
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_linker_file_stem)]
+pub struct LinkerFileStem;
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_static_library_native_artifacts)]
+pub struct StaticLibraryNativeArtifacts;
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_native_static_libs)]
+pub struct NativeStaticLibs {
+    pub arguments: String,
+}
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_link_script_unavailable)]
+pub struct LinkScriptUnavailable;
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_link_script_write_failure)]
+pub struct LinkScriptWriteFailure {
+    pub path: PathBuf,
+    pub error: Error,
+}
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_failed_to_write)]
+pub struct FailedToWrite {
+    pub path: PathBuf,
+    pub error: Error,
+}
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_unable_to_write_debugger_visualizer)]
+pub struct UnableToWriteDebuggerVisualizer {
+    pub path: PathBuf,
+    pub error: Error,
+}
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_rlib_archive_build_failure)]
+pub struct RlibArchiveBuildFailure {
+    pub error: Error,
+}
+
+#[derive(Diagnostic)]
+#[diag(codegen_ssa_option_gcc_only)]
+pub struct OptionGccOnly;
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_error_messages/locales/en-US/codegen_ssa.ftl b/compiler/rustc_error_messages/locales/en-US/codegen_ssa.ftl
index 966a421bcf0..2e5c72ee645 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_error_messages/locales/en-US/codegen_ssa.ftl
+++ b/compiler/rustc_error_messages/locales/en-US/codegen_ssa.ftl
@@ -119,3 +119,54 @@ codegen_ssa_thorin_object_read = {$error}
 codegen_ssa_thorin_object_write = {$error}
 codegen_ssa_thorin_gimli_read = {$error}
 codegen_ssa_thorin_gimli_write = {$error}
+
+codegen_ssa_link_exe_unexpected_error = `link.exe` returned an unexpected error
+
+codegen_ssa_repair_vs_build_tools = the Visual Studio build tools may need to be repaired using the Visual Studio installer
+
+codegen_ssa_missing_cpp_build_tool_component = or a necessary component may be missing from the "C++ build tools" workload
+
+codegen_ssa_select_cpp_build_tool_workload = in the Visual Studio installer, ensure the "C++ build tools" workload is selected
+
+codegen_ssa_visual_studio_not_installed = you may need to install Visual Studio build tools with the "C++ build tools" workload
+
+codegen_ssa_linker_not_found = linker `{$linker_path}` not found
+    .note = {$error}
+
+codegen_ssa_unable_to_exe_linker = could not exec the linker `{$linker_path}`
+    .note = {$error}
+    .command_note = {$command_formatted}
+
+codegen_ssa_msvc_missing_linker = the msvc targets depend on the msvc linker but `link.exe` was not found
+
+codegen_ssa_check_installed_visual_studio = please ensure that Visual Studio 2017 or later, or Build Tools for Visual Studio were installed with the Visual C++ option.
+
+codegen_ssa_unsufficient_vs_code_product = VS Code is a different product, and is not sufficient.
+
+codegen_ssa_processing_dymutil_failed = processing debug info with `dsymutil` failed: {$status}
+    .note = {$output}
+
+codegen_ssa_unable_to_run_dsymutil = unable to run `dsymutil`: {$error}
+
+codegen_ssa_stripping_debu_info_failed = stripping debug info with `{$util}` failed: {$status}
+    .note = {$output}
+
+codegen_ssa_unable_to_run = unable to run `{$util}`: {$error}
+
+codegen_ssa_linker_file_stem = couldn't extract file stem from specified linker
+
+codegen_ssa_static_library_native_artifacts = Link against the following native artifacts when linking against this static library. The order and any duplication can be significant on some platforms.
+
+codegen_ssa_native_static_libs = native-static-libs: {$arguments}
+
+codegen_ssa_link_script_unavailable = can only use link script when linking with GNU-like linker
+
+codegen_ssa_link_script_write_failure = failed to write link script to {$path}: {$error}
+
+codegen_ssa_failed_to_write = failed to write {$path}: {$error}
+
+codegen_ssa_unable_to_write_debugger_visualizer = Unable to write debugger visualizer file `{$path}`: {$error}
+
+codegen_ssa_rlib_archive_build_failure = failed to build archive from rlib: {$error}
+
+codegen_ssa_option_gcc_only = option `-Z gcc-ld` is used even though linker flavor is not gcc
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_errors/src/diagnostic_impls.rs b/compiler/rustc_errors/src/diagnostic_impls.rs
index 7640b2919f7..4f32e236b2d 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_errors/src/diagnostic_impls.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_errors/src/diagnostic_impls.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 use std::fmt;
 use std::num::ParseIntError;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
+use std::process::ExitStatus;
 
 pub struct DiagnosticArgFromDisplay<'a>(pub &'a dyn fmt::Display);
 
@@ -66,7 +67,8 @@ fn into_diagnostic_arg(self) -> DiagnosticArgValue<'static> {
     ParseIntError,
     StackProtector,
     &TargetTriple,
-    SplitDebuginfo
+    SplitDebuginfo,
+    ExitStatus,
 );
 
 impl IntoDiagnosticArg for bool {