diff --git a/.bazelci/presubmit.yml b/.bazelci/presubmit.yml
index c89129d696..87aa7ff9e1 100644
--- a/.bazelci/presubmit.yml
+++ b/.bazelci/presubmit.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 tasks:
   ubuntu1804_bazel400:
     platform: ubuntu1804
-    bazel: 5.1.0 # test minimum supported version of bazel
+    bazel: 5.2.0 # test minimum supported version of bazel
     shell_commands:
       - tests/core/cgo/generate_imported_dylib.sh
     build_targets:
diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 954cc2d9ed..f32d2c67c8 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ The Go rules are tested and supported on the following host platforms:
 Users have reported success on several other platforms, but the rules are
 only tested on those listed above.
 
-Note: Since version v0.35.0, rules_go requires Bazel ≥ 5.1.0 to work.
+Note: Since version v0.38.0, rules_go requires Bazel ≥ 5.2.0 to work.
 
 The ``master`` branch is only guaranteed to work with the latest version of Bazel.
 
diff --git a/go/private/common.bzl b/go/private/common.bzl
index 7a1c4135ee..d0efaaf951 100644
--- a/go/private/common.bzl
+++ b/go/private/common.bzl
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ def get_versioned_shared_lib_extension(path):
     # something like 1.2.3, or so.1.2, or dylib.1.2, or foo.1.2
     return ""
 
-MINIMUM_BAZEL_VERSION = "5.1.0"
+MINIMUM_BAZEL_VERSION = "5.2.0"
 
 def as_list(v):
     """Returns a list, tuple, or depset as a list."""
diff --git a/go/private/repositories.bzl b/go/private/repositories.bzl
index 99170742c4..4dc669cee3 100644
--- a/go/private/repositories.bzl
+++ b/go/private/repositories.bzl
@@ -20,18 +20,6 @@ load("//go/private:nogo.bzl", "DEFAULT_NOGO", "go_register_nogo")
 load("//proto:gogo.bzl", "gogo_special_proto")
 load("@bazel_tools//tools/build_defs/repo:http.bzl", "http_archive")
 
-# native.bazel_version is only available in WORKSPACE macros
-# https://github.com/bazelbuild/bazel/issues/8305
-# Needed for guarding env_inherit support https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_go/pull/3256 which requires 5.2.0+
-def _bazel_version_repository_impl(repository_ctx):
-    repository_ctx.file("bazel_version.bzl", "bazel_version = \"{}\"".format(native.bazel_version))
-    repository_ctx.file("BUILD", "exports_files([\"bazel_version.bzl\"])")
-
-_bazel_version_repository = repository_rule(
-    implementation = _bazel_version_repository_impl,
-    local = True,
-)
-
 def go_rules_dependencies(force = False):
     """Declares workspaces the Go rules depend on. Workspaces that use
     rules_go should call this.
@@ -50,8 +38,6 @@ def go_rules_dependencies(force = False):
     if getattr(native, "bazel_version", None):
         versions.check(MINIMUM_BAZEL_VERSION, bazel_version = native.bazel_version)
 
-    _bazel_version_repository(name = "rules_go_bazel_version")
-
     if force:
         wrapper = _always
     else:
diff --git a/go/private/rules/BUILD.bazel b/go/private/rules/BUILD.bazel
index 13127b67ac..2de381d597 100644
--- a/go/private/rules/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/go/private/rules/BUILD.bazel
@@ -132,9 +132,7 @@ bzl_library(
         "//go/private:providers",
         "//go/private/rules:binary",
         "//go/private/rules:transition",
-        "//go/private/skylib/lib:versions",
         "@bazel_skylib//lib:structs",
-        "@rules_go_bazel_version//:bazel_version.bzl",
     ],
 )
 
diff --git a/go/private/rules/test.bzl b/go/private/rules/test.bzl
index 76716ed7a5..d30704d006 100644
--- a/go/private/rules/test.bzl
+++ b/go/private/rules/test.bzl
@@ -52,11 +52,6 @@ load(
     "@bazel_skylib//lib:structs.bzl",
     "structs",
 )
-load("@rules_go_bazel_version//:bazel_version.bzl", "bazel_version")
-load(
-    "//go/private/skylib/lib:versions.bzl",
-    "versions",
-)
 
 def _go_test_impl(ctx):
     """go_test_impl implements go testing.
@@ -168,12 +163,7 @@ def _go_test_impl(ctx):
     for k, v in ctx.attr.env.items():
         env[k] = ctx.expand_location(v, ctx.attr.data)
 
-    test_environment = testing.TestEnvironment(env)
-    if ctx.attr.env_inherit:
-        # inherited_environment is only available in Bazel 5.2.0+
-        # https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_go/pull/3256
-        versions.check("5.2.0", bazel_version = bazel_version)
-        test_environment = testing.TestEnvironment(env, ctx.attr.env_inherit)
+    test_environment = testing.TestEnvironment(env, ctx.attr.env_inherit)
 
     # Bazel only looks for coverage data if the test target has an
     # InstrumentedFilesProvider. If the provider is found and at least one