diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index 20bf8fb7..cbc34648 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ commands:
 jobs:
   rust:
     docker:
-      - image: circleci/rust:buster
+      - image: circleci/rust:1.37.0-buster
     steps:
       - checkout
       - restore_cache:
@@ -56,9 +56,8 @@ jobs:
           # https://github.com/mruby/mruby/blob/master/doc/guides/compile.md#prerequisites
           name: Install mruby Build Dependencies
           command: |
-            sudo apt-get install -y bison gperf
+            sudo apt-get install -y bison
             bison --version
-            gperf --version
       - run:
           # needed for cc crate in build.rs
           name: Install mruby-sys Build Dependencies
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index bb1f5c53..8643f95c 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ dependencies, which are orchestrated by [Yarn](https://yarnpkg.com/).
 
 ### Rust Toolchain
 
-The Artichoke Playground depends on nightly Rust and several compiler plugins
-for linting and formatting. The specific version of Rust Artichoke requires is
+The Artichoke Playground depends on stable Rust and several compiler plugins for
+linting and formatting. The specific version of Rust Artichoke requires is
 specified in the [toolchain file](/rust-toolchain)
 
 #### Installation
@@ -179,11 +179,12 @@ Merges will be blocked by CI if there are lint errors.
 
 ### Rust Toolchain
 
-Because rustfmt, clippy, and the language server sometimes break on nightly, th
-Artichoke Playground pegs a specific date archive of nightly. If you want to
-update the pegged nightly version, choose one that has
-[passing builds for rustfmt, clippy, and rls](https://rust-lang-nursery.github.io/rust-toolstate/);
-otherwise, the build will fail on [CI](/.circleci/config.yml).
+The rust-toolchain can be bumped to the latest stable compiler by editing the
+[`rust-toolchain`](/rust-toolchain) file. This file is automatically picked up
+by local builds and CI.
+
+When updating the Rust toolchain, please also bump the build container base
+image in [`.circleci/config.yml`](/.circleci/config.yml).
 
 ### Rust Crates
 
diff --git a/playground/src/main.rs b/playground/src/main.rs
index 6a211b65..b52ac0f8 100644
--- a/playground/src/main.rs
+++ b/playground/src/main.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 #![deny(warnings, intra_doc_link_resolution_failure)]
 #![deny(clippy::all, clippy::pedantic)]
 #![allow(clippy::cast_possible_truncation, clippy::cast_lossless)]
-#![feature(link_args)]
 
 use artichoke_backend::eval::{Context, Eval};
 use artichoke_backend::Artichoke;
@@ -116,14 +115,4 @@ pub fn artichoke_eval(state: u32, ptr: u32) -> u32 {
     s
 }
 
-#[cfg(link_args = r#"
-    -s WASM=1
-    -s ASSERTIONS=1
-    -s ENVIRONMENT='web'
-    -s EXPORTED_FUNCTIONS=["_artichoke_web_repl_init","_artichoke_string_new","_artichoke_string_free","_artichoke_string_getlen","_artichoke_string_getch","_artichoke_string_putch","_artichoke_eval"]
-    -s EXTRA_EXPORTED_RUNTIME_METHODS=["ccall","cwrap"]
-"#)]
-#[allow(unused_attributes)]
-extern "C" {}
-
 fn main() {}
diff --git a/rust-toolchain b/rust-toolchain
index b7838311..bf50e910 100644
--- a/rust-toolchain
+++ b/rust-toolchain
@@ -1 +1 @@
-nightly-2019-07-08
+1.37.0
diff --git a/scripts/activate-wasm-build-env.sh b/scripts/activate-wasm-build-env.sh
index f0a2f82c..5184d946 100644
--- a/scripts/activate-wasm-build-env.sh
+++ b/scripts/activate-wasm-build-env.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,23 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
+link_args=(
+  -s "NO_EXIT_RUNTIME=1"
+  -s "WASM=1"
+  -s "ASSERTIONS=1"
+  -s "ENVIRONMENT=web"
+  -s 'EXPORTED_FUNCTIONS=["_artichoke_web_repl_init","_artichoke_string_new","_artichoke_string_free","_artichoke_string_getlen","_artichoke_string_getch","_artichoke_string_putch","_artichoke_eval"]'
+  -s 'EXTRA_EXPORTED_RUNTIME_METHODS=["ccall","cwrap"]'
+)
+
+declare -a rustc_linker_flags
+for flag in "${link_args[@]}"; do
+  rustc_linker_flags+=("-C")
+  rustc_linker_flags+=("link-arg=$flag")
+done
+
+RUSTFLAGS="${rustc_linker_flags[*]}"
+export RUSTFLAGS
+
 ensure_emsdk() {
   # shellcheck disable=SC2091
   if [ ! -f "target/emsdk/emsdk" ]; then