diff --git a/.github/workflows/integration.yml b/.github/workflows/integration.yml
index e0cd1b17cf3..264a3539843 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/integration.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/integration.yml
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           ./scripts/run-rustls-integration.sh
 
-  sys-crate-tests:
+  links-crate-tests:
     if: github.repository == 'aws/aws-lc-rs'
     name: sys crate tests
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         os: [ ubuntu-latest, macos-12, macos-13-xlarge, windows-latest ]
-        features: [ aws-lc-sys, aws-lc-fips-sys ]
+        features: [ aws-lc-rs, aws-lc-rs-fips, aws-lc-sys, aws-lc-fips-sys ]
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with:
@@ -85,10 +85,10 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install ninja-build tool
         uses: seanmiddleditch/gha-setup-ninja@v4
       - name: Run cargo test
-        working-directory: ./sys-testing
+        working-directory: ./links-testing
         run: cargo test --features ${{ matrix.features }} --no-default-features
       - name: Run cargo run
-        working-directory: ./sys-testing
+        working-directory: ./links-testing
         run: cargo run --features ${{ matrix.features }} --no-default-features
 
   publish-dry-run:
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index de7558d872f..d463e2a6ece 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ members = [
     "aws-lc-sys",
     "aws-lc-fips-sys",
     "aws-lc-rs-testing",
-    "sys-testing"
+    "links-testing"
 ]
 resolver = "2"
 
diff --git a/aws-lc-fips-sys/builder/main.rs b/aws-lc-fips-sys/builder/main.rs
index 03520dbe8d9..0b0aafe89ba 100644
--- a/aws-lc-fips-sys/builder/main.rs
+++ b/aws-lc-fips-sys/builder/main.rs
@@ -296,6 +296,12 @@ fn main() {
         setup_include_paths(&out_dir, &manifest_dir).display()
     );
 
+    // export the artifact names
+    println!("cargo:libcrypto={}_crypto", prefix_string());
+    if cfg!(feature = "ssl") {
+        println!("cargo:libssl={}_ssl", prefix_string());
+    }
+
     println!("cargo:rerun-if-changed=builder/");
     println!("cargo:rerun-if-changed=aws-lc/");
     println!("cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=AWS_LC_FIPS_SYS_STATIC");
diff --git a/aws-lc-rs/Cargo.toml b/aws-lc-rs/Cargo.toml
index 3368affd0e8..e03b5fee9f6 100644
--- a/aws-lc-rs/Cargo.toml
+++ b/aws-lc-rs/Cargo.toml
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 name = "aws-lc-rs"
 authors = ["AWS-LibCrypto"]
 version = "1.6.1"
+# this crate re-exports whatever sys crate that was selected
+links = "aws_lc_rs_1_6_1_sys"
 edition = "2021"
 rust-version = "1.60"
 keywords = ["crypto", "cryptography", "security"]
diff --git a/aws-lc-rs/build.rs b/aws-lc-rs/build.rs
index 0675b5d876d..e34a7a37334 100644
--- a/aws-lc-rs/build.rs
+++ b/aws-lc-rs/build.rs
@@ -2,28 +2,74 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 OR ISC
 
 fn main() {
-    let mutually_exclusives_count = [cfg!(feature = "non-fips"), cfg!(feature = "fips")]
-        .iter()
-        .filter(|x| **x)
-        .count();
-
-    if mutually_exclusives_count > 1 {
-        eprint!("fips and non-fips are mutually exclusive crate features.");
-        std::process::exit(1);
-    }
+    let has_mutually_exclusive_features = cfg!(feature = "non-fips") && cfg!(feature = "fips");
+    assert!(
+        !has_mutually_exclusive_features,
+        "`fips` and `non-fips` are mutually exclusive crate features."
+    );
 
     // This appears asymmetric, but it reflects the `cfg` statements in lib.rs that
     // require `aws-lc-sys` to be present when "fips" is not enabled.
-    let at_least_one_count = [cfg!(feature = "aws-lc-sys"), cfg!(feature = "fips")]
-        .iter()
-        .filter(|x| **x)
-        .count();
-
-    if at_least_one_count < 1 {
-        eprint!(
-            "one of the following features must be specified: \
-        aws-lc-sys, non-fips, or fips."
+    // if `fips` is enabled, then use that
+    let sys_crate = if cfg!(feature = "fips") {
+        "aws-lc-fips-sys"
+    } else if cfg!(feature = "aws-lc-sys") {
+        "aws-lc-sys"
+    } else {
+        panic!(
+            "one of the following features must be specified: `aws-lc-sys`, `non-fips`, or `fips`."
         );
-        std::process::exit(1);
+    };
+
+    export_sys_vars(sys_crate);
+}
+
+fn export_sys_vars(sys_crate: &str) {
+    let prefix = if sys_crate == "aws-lc-fips-sys" {
+        "DEP_AWS_LC_FIPS_"
+    } else {
+        "DEP_AWS_LC_"
+    };
+
+    let mut selected = String::default();
+    let mut candidates = vec![];
+
+    // search through the DEP vars and find the selected sys crate version
+    for (name, value) in std::env::vars() {
+        // if we've selected a prefix then we can go straight to exporting it
+        if !selected.is_empty() {
+            try_export_var(&selected, &name, &value);
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        // we're still looking for a selected prefix
+        if let Some(version) = name.strip_prefix(prefix) {
+            if let Some(version) = version.strip_suffix("_INCLUDE") {
+                // we've found the selected version so update it and export it
+                selected = format!("{prefix}{version}_");
+                try_export_var(&selected, &name, &value);
+            } else {
+                // it started with the expected prefix, but we don't know what the version is yet
+                // so save it for later
+                candidates.push((name, value));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    assert!(!selected.is_empty(), "missing {prefix} include");
+
+    // process all of the remaining candidates
+    for (name, value) in candidates {
+        try_export_var(&selected, &name, &value);
+    }
+}
+
+fn try_export_var(selected: &str, name: &str, value: &str) {
+    assert!(!selected.is_empty(), "missing selected prefix");
+
+    if let Some(var) = name.strip_prefix(selected) {
+        eprintln!("cargo:rerun-if-env-changed={name}");
+        let var = var.to_lowercase();
+        println!("cargo:{var}={value}");
     }
 }
diff --git a/aws-lc-sys/builder/main.rs b/aws-lc-sys/builder/main.rs
index a65c1eddadb..f642c7c5f9d 100644
--- a/aws-lc-sys/builder/main.rs
+++ b/aws-lc-sys/builder/main.rs
@@ -294,6 +294,12 @@ fn main() {
         setup_include_paths(&out_dir, &manifest_dir).display()
     );
 
+    // export the artifact names
+    println!("cargo:libcrypto={}_crypto", prefix_string());
+    if cfg!(feature = "ssl") {
+        println!("cargo:libssl={}_ssl", prefix_string());
+    }
+
     println!("cargo:rerun-if-changed=builder/");
     println!("cargo:rerun-if-changed=aws-lc/");
     println!("cargo:rerun-if-env-changed=AWS_LC_SYS_STATIC");
diff --git a/sys-testing/Cargo.toml b/links-testing/Cargo.toml
similarity index 59%
rename from sys-testing/Cargo.toml
rename to links-testing/Cargo.toml
index c36a6f76df4..7612c0fcf9c 100644
--- a/sys-testing/Cargo.toml
+++ b/links-testing/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,15 +1,18 @@
 [package]
-name = "sys-testing"
+name = "links-testing"
 version = "0.1.0"
 edition = "2021"
 publish = false
 
 [features]
 default = ["aws-lc-sys"]
+aws-lc-rs = ["dep:aws-lc-rs"]
+aws-lc-rs-fips = ["aws-lc-rs", "aws-lc-rs/fips"]
 aws-lc-sys = ["dep:aws-lc-sys"]
 aws-lc-fips-sys = ["dep:aws-lc-fips-sys"]
 
 [dependencies]
+aws-lc-rs = { path = "../aws-lc-rs", optional = true }
 aws-lc-sys = { path = "../aws-lc-sys", optional = true }
 aws-lc-fips-sys = { path = "../aws-lc-fips-sys", optional = true }
 
@@ -18,4 +21,4 @@ cc = "1"
 toml_edit = "0.21"
 
 [package.metadata.cargo-udeps.ignore]
-normal = [ "aws-lc-sys", "aws-lc-fips-sys" ] # the sys crate is only used through a C library build
+normal = [ "aws-lc-rs", "aws-lc-sys", "aws-lc-fips-sys" ] # the sys crate is only used through a C library build
diff --git a/links-testing/build.rs b/links-testing/build.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..39c8334bfaf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/links-testing/build.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 OR ISC
+
+use toml_edit::Document;
+
+fn main() {
+    let mut deps = vec![];
+
+    macro_rules! select_dep {
+        ($dep:literal) => {
+            if cfg!(feature = $dep) {
+                deps.push($dep);
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    select_dep!("aws-lc-rs");
+    select_dep!("aws-lc-sys");
+    select_dep!("aws-lc-fips-sys");
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        deps.len(),
+        1,
+        "exactly one dependency is allowed at a time, got {deps:?}"
+    );
+
+    let dep = deps.pop().unwrap();
+    let dep_links = get_package_links_property(&format!("../{dep}/Cargo.toml"));
+    let dep_snake_case = dep.replace('-', "_");
+    build_and_link(dep_links.as_ref(), &dep_snake_case);
+}
+
+fn build_and_link(links: &str, target_name: &str) {
+    // ensure that the include path is exported and set up correctly
+    cc::Build::new()
+        .include(env(format!("DEP_{}_INCLUDE", links.to_uppercase())))
+        .file("src/testing.c")
+        .compile(&format!("testing_{target_name}"));
+
+    // make sure the root was exported
+    let root = env(format!("DEP_{}_ROOT", links.to_uppercase()));
+    println!("cargo:rustc-link-search={root}");
+
+    // ensure the libcrypto artifact is linked
+    let libcrypto = env(format!("DEP_{}_LIBCRYPTO", links.to_uppercase()));
+    println!("cargo:rustc-link-lib={libcrypto}");
+}
+
+fn get_package_links_property(cargo_toml_path: &str) -> String {
+    let cargo_toml = std::fs::read_to_string(cargo_toml_path).unwrap();
+    let cargo_toml = cargo_toml.parse::<Document>().unwrap();
+
+    let links = cargo_toml["package"]["links"].as_str().unwrap();
+
+    String::from(links)
+}
+
+fn env<S: AsRef<str>>(s: S) -> String {
+    let s = s.as_ref();
+    println!("cargo:rerun-if-env-changed={s}");
+    std::env::var(s).unwrap_or_else(|_| panic!("missing env var {s}"))
+}
diff --git a/sys-testing/src/main.rs b/links-testing/src/main.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from sys-testing/src/main.rs
rename to links-testing/src/main.rs
diff --git a/sys-testing/src/testing.c b/links-testing/src/testing.c
similarity index 100%
rename from sys-testing/src/testing.c
rename to links-testing/src/testing.c
diff --git a/sys-testing/build.rs b/sys-testing/build.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index f5cdcc928e7..00000000000
--- a/sys-testing/build.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,47 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
-// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 OR ISC
-
-use toml_edit::Document;
-
-fn main() {
-    if cfg!(all(feature = "aws-lc-sys", feature = "aws-lc-fips-sys")) {
-        panic!("only one sys crate can be built at a time")
-    } else if cfg!(feature = "aws-lc-sys") {
-        let aws_lc_sys_links = get_package_links_property("../aws-lc-sys/Cargo.toml");
-        build_and_link(aws_lc_sys_links.as_ref(), "aws_lc_sys");
-        return;
-    } else if cfg!(feature = "aws-lc-fips-sys") {
-        let aws_lc_fips_sys_links = get_package_links_property("../aws-lc-fips-sys/Cargo.toml");
-        build_and_link(aws_lc_fips_sys_links.as_ref(), "aws_lc_fips");
-        return;
-    }
-    panic!(
-        "select a sys crate for testing using --features aws-lc-sys or --features aws-lc-fips-sys"
-    )
-}
-
-fn build_and_link(links: &str, target_name: &str) {
-    // ensure that the include path is exported and set up correctly
-    cc::Build::new()
-        .include(env(format!("DEP_{}_INCLUDE", links.to_uppercase())))
-        .file("src/testing.c")
-        .compile(target_name);
-
-    // ensure the libcrypto artifact is linked
-    println!("cargo:rustc-link-lib={links}_crypto");
-}
-
-fn get_package_links_property(cargo_toml_path: &str) -> String {
-    let cargo_toml = std::fs::read_to_string(cargo_toml_path).unwrap();
-    let cargo_toml = cargo_toml.parse::<Document>().unwrap();
-
-    let links = cargo_toml["package"]["links"].as_str().unwrap();
-
-    String::from(links)
-}
-
-fn env<S: AsRef<str>>(s: S) -> String {
-    let s = s.as_ref();
-    println!("cargo:rerun-if-env-changed={s}");
-    std::env::var(s).unwrap_or_else(|_| panic!("missing env var {s}"))
-}