diff --git a/build.js b/build.js
index 7bc623d4f1141..5c7a19d15e730 100644
--- a/build.js
+++ b/build.js
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ namespace mozilla::recordreplay {
   `
 );
 
+// set rust compiler version with rustup
+spawnChecked("rustup", ["show"]);
+
 const buildOptions = {
   stdio: "inherit",
   env: {
@@ -116,7 +119,7 @@ function getRevisionDate(
  */
 function computeBuildId() {
   const geckoRevision = spawnChecked("git", ["rev-parse", "--short=12", "HEAD"]).stdout.toString().trim();
-  
+
   const runtimeDate = getRevisionDate();
 
   // Use the later of the two dates in the build ID.
diff --git a/rust-toolchain.toml b/rust-toolchain.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..fb8200452c722
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rust-toolchain.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[toolchain]
+channel = "1.51.0"