diff --git a/Makefile.pre.in b/Makefile.pre.in
index 17c0b5785d0..e5182a623c1 100644
--- a/Makefile.pre.in
+++ b/Makefile.pre.in
@@ -221,6 +221,7 @@ LIBOBJS=	@LIBOBJS@
 PYTHON=		python$(EXE)
 BUILDPYTHON=	python$(BUILDEXE)
 
+cross_compiling=@cross_compiling@
 PYTHON_FOR_BUILD=@PYTHON_FOR_BUILD@
 _PYTHON_HOST_PLATFORM=@_PYTHON_HOST_PLATFORM@
 BUILD_GNU_TYPE=	@build@
@@ -718,12 +719,16 @@ Programs/_freeze_importlib: Programs/_freeze_importlib.o $(LIBRARY_OBJS_OMIT_FRO
 	$(LINKCC) $(PY_LDFLAGS) -o $@ Programs/_freeze_importlib.o $(LIBRARY_OBJS_OMIT_FROZEN) $(LIBS) $(MODLIBS) $(SYSLIBS) $(LDLAST)
 
 Python/importlib_external.h: $(srcdir)/Lib/importlib/_bootstrap_external.py Programs/_freeze_importlib
-	./Programs/_freeze_importlib \
-		$(srcdir)/Lib/importlib/_bootstrap_external.py Python/importlib_external.h
+	if test "$(cross_compiling)" != "yes"; then \
+	    ./Programs/_freeze_importlib \
+	        $(srcdir)/Lib/importlib/_bootstrap_external.py Python/importlib_external.h; \
+	fi
 
 Python/importlib.h: $(srcdir)/Lib/importlib/_bootstrap.py Programs/_freeze_importlib
-	./Programs/_freeze_importlib \
-		$(srcdir)/Lib/importlib/_bootstrap.py Python/importlib.h
+	if test "$(cross_compiling)" != "yes"; then \
+	    ./Programs/_freeze_importlib \
+	        $(srcdir)/Lib/importlib/_bootstrap.py Python/importlib.h; \
+	fi
 
 
 ############################################################################
@@ -784,10 +789,18 @@ Python/sysmodule.o: $(srcdir)/Python/sysmodule.c Makefile
 $(IO_OBJS): $(IO_H)
 
 $(GRAMMAR_H): $(GRAMMAR_INPUT) $(PGEN)
-		@$(MKDIR_P) Include
-		$(PGEN) $(GRAMMAR_INPUT) $(GRAMMAR_H) $(GRAMMAR_C)
+	@$(MKDIR_P) Include
+	if test "$(cross_compiling)" != "yes"; then \
+		$(PGEN) $(GRAMMAR_INPUT) $(GRAMMAR_H) $(GRAMMAR_C); \
+	else \
+		cp $(srcdir)/Include/graminit.h $(GRAMMAR_H); \
+	fi
 $(GRAMMAR_C): $(GRAMMAR_H)
-		touch $(GRAMMAR_C)
+	if test "$(cross_compiling)" != "yes"; then \
+		touch $(GRAMMAR_C); \
+	else \
+		cp $(srcdir)/Python/graminit.c $(GRAMMAR_C); \
+	fi
 
 $(PGEN): $(PGENOBJS)
 		$(CC) $(OPT) $(PY_LDFLAGS) $(PGENOBJS) $(LIBS) -o $(PGEN)
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index e11ee400c86..07b7fde759d 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -404,6 +404,11 @@ Tests
 Build
 -----
 
+- Issue #22359: Disable the rules for running _freeze_importlib and pgen when
+  cross-compiling.  The output of these programs is normally saved with the
+  source code anyway, and is still regenerated when doing a native build.
+  Patch by Xavier de Gaye.
+
 - Issue #21668: Link audioop, _datetime, _ctypes_test modules to libm,
   except on Mac OS X. Patch written by Xavier de Gaye.
 
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 68970848702..1823d148f7e 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -751,6 +751,7 @@ build_os
 build_vendor
 build_cpu
 build
+cross_compiling
 HAS_HG
 HGBRANCH
 HGTAG
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b13cf059a75..44811d9a859 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ fi
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([Include/object.h])
 AC_CONFIG_HEADER(pyconfig.h)
 
+AC_SUBST(cross_compiling)
 AC_CANONICAL_HOST
 AC_SUBST(build)
 AC_SUBST(host)