diff --git a/src/bootstrap/toolstate.rs b/src/bootstrap/toolstate.rs
index 9c4d0ea265d..1285603a63d 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/toolstate.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/toolstate.rs
@@ -262,6 +262,8 @@ fn toolstates(&self) -> HashMap<Box<str>, ToolState> {
     /// `rust.save-toolstates` in `config.toml`. If unspecified, nothing will be
     /// done. The file is updated immediately after this function completes.
     pub fn save_toolstate(&self, tool: &str, state: ToolState) {
+        use std::io::Write;
+
         // If we're in a dry run setting we don't want to save toolstates as
         // that means if we e.g. panic down the line it'll look like we tested
         // everything (but we actually haven't).
@@ -286,7 +288,8 @@ pub fn save_toolstate(&self, tool: &str, state: ToolState) {
             current_toolstates.insert(tool.into(), state);
             t!(file.seek(SeekFrom::Start(0)));
             t!(file.set_len(0));
-            t!(serde_json::to_writer(file, &current_toolstates));
+            t!(serde_json::to_writer(&file, &current_toolstates));
+            t!(writeln!(file)); // make sure this ends in a newline
         }
     }
 }