diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 118c28e80d9..bfc4b2c8e92 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ endif
 	@echo  'Documentation targets:'
 	$(call print-help,html man,Build documentation in specified format)
 	@echo  ''
-ifdef CONFIG_WIN32
+ifneq ($(filter msi, $(ninja-targets)),)
 	@echo  'Windows targets:'
 	$(call print-help,installer,Build NSIS-based installer for QEMU)
 	$(call print-help,msi,Build MSI-based installer for qemu-ga)
diff --git a/chardev/meson.build b/chardev/meson.build
index fb630b429eb..6d56ad32fdb 100644
--- a/chardev/meson.build
+++ b/chardev/meson.build
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ chardev_ss.add(when: 'CONFIG_WIN32', if_true: files(
   'char-win.c',
 ))
 
-chardev_ss = chardev_ss.apply(config_host, strict: false)
+chardev_ss = chardev_ss.apply(config_targetos, strict: false)
 
 system_ss.add(files(
     'char-hmp-cmds.c',
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index f3ffaca1878..6404b659718 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1683,32 +1683,14 @@ echo >> $config_host_mak
 echo all: >> $config_host_mak
 
 if test "$targetos" = "windows"; then
-  echo "CONFIG_WIN32=y" >> $config_host_mak
   echo "QEMU_GA_MANUFACTURER=${QEMU_GA_MANUFACTURER-QEMU}" >> $config_host_mak
   echo "QEMU_GA_DISTRO=${QEMU_GA_DISTRO-Linux}" >> $config_host_mak
   echo "QEMU_GA_VERSION=${QEMU_GA_VERSION-$(cat "$source_path"/VERSION)}" >> $config_host_mak
-else
-  echo "CONFIG_POSIX=y" >> $config_host_mak
-fi
-
-if test "$targetos" = "linux" ; then
-  echo "CONFIG_LINUX=y" >> $config_host_mak
-fi
-
-if test "$targetos" = "darwin" ; then
-  echo "CONFIG_DARWIN=y" >> $config_host_mak
 fi
 
 echo "SRC_PATH=$source_path" >> $config_host_mak
 echo "TARGET_DIRS=$target_list" >> $config_host_mak
 
-# XXX: suppress that
-case $targetos in
-  gnu/kfreebsd | freebsd | dragonfly | netbsd | openbsd | darwin)
-    echo "CONFIG_BSD=y" >> $config_host_mak
-    ;;
-esac
-
 if test -n "$gdb_bin"; then
     gdb_version=$($gdb_bin --version | head -n 1)
     if version_ge ${gdb_version##* } 9.1; then
diff --git a/docs/devel/kconfig.rst b/docs/devel/kconfig.rst
index e3a544e463f..73f52de1067 100644
--- a/docs/devel/kconfig.rst
+++ b/docs/devel/kconfig.rst
@@ -316,6 +316,6 @@ variable::
 
     host_kconfig = \
       (have_tpm ? ['CONFIG_TPM=y'] : []) + \
-      ('CONFIG_LINUX' in config_host ? ['CONFIG_LINUX=y'] : []) + \
+      (targetos == 'linux' ? ['CONFIG_LINUX=y'] : []) + \
       (have_ivshmem ? ['CONFIG_IVSHMEM=y'] : []) + \
       ...
diff --git a/gdbstub/meson.build b/gdbstub/meson.build
index 77762e0b3e1..9500b9dc4e6 100644
--- a/gdbstub/meson.build
+++ b/gdbstub/meson.build
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ gdb_system_ss = ss.source_set()
 gdb_user_ss.add(files('gdbstub.c', 'user.c'))
 gdb_system_ss.add(files('gdbstub.c', 'softmmu.c'))
 
-gdb_user_ss = gdb_user_ss.apply(config_host, strict: false)
-gdb_system_ss = gdb_system_ss.apply(config_host, strict: false)
+gdb_user_ss = gdb_user_ss.apply(config_targetos, strict: false)
+gdb_system_ss = gdb_system_ss.apply(config_targetos, strict: false)
 
 libgdb_user = static_library('gdb_user',
                              gdb_user_ss.sources() + genh,
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index f6d079f4cda..d3feac656cb 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -2069,10 +2069,15 @@ config_host_data.set('CONFIG_MODULE_UPGRADES', get_option('module_upgrades'))
 config_host_data.set('CONFIG_ATTR', libattr.found())
 config_host_data.set('CONFIG_BDRV_WHITELIST_TOOLS', get_option('block_drv_whitelist_in_tools'))
 config_host_data.set('CONFIG_BRLAPI', brlapi.found())
+config_host_data.set('CONFIG_BSD', targetos in bsd_oses)
 config_host_data.set('CONFIG_COCOA', cocoa.found())
+config_host_data.set('CONFIG_DARWIN', targetos == 'darwin')
 config_host_data.set('CONFIG_FUZZ', get_option('fuzzing'))
 config_host_data.set('CONFIG_GCOV', get_option('b_coverage'))
 config_host_data.set('CONFIG_LIBUDEV', libudev.found())
+config_host_data.set('CONFIG_LINUX', targetos == 'linux')
+config_host_data.set('CONFIG_POSIX', targetos != 'windows')
+config_host_data.set('CONFIG_WIN32', targetos == 'windows')
 config_host_data.set('CONFIG_LZO', lzo.found())
 config_host_data.set('CONFIG_MPATH', mpathpersist.found())
 config_host_data.set('CONFIG_BLKIO', blkio.found())
@@ -2799,6 +2804,15 @@ endif
 ########################
 
 minikconf = find_program('scripts/minikconf.py')
+config_targetos = {
+  (targetos == 'windows' ? 'CONFIG_WIN32' : 'CONFIG_POSIX'): 'y'
+}
+if targetos == 'darwin'
+  config_targetos += {'CONFIG_DARWIN': 'y'}
+elif targetos == 'linux'
+  config_targetos += {'CONFIG_LINUX': 'y'}
+endif
+
 config_all = {}
 config_all_devices = {}
 config_all_disas = {}
@@ -2842,7 +2856,7 @@ host_kconfig = \
   (have_vhost_vdpa ? ['CONFIG_VHOST_VDPA=y'] : []) + \
   (have_vhost_kernel ? ['CONFIG_VHOST_KERNEL=y'] : []) + \
   (have_virtfs ? ['CONFIG_VIRTFS=y'] : []) + \
-  ('CONFIG_LINUX' in config_host ? ['CONFIG_LINUX=y'] : []) + \
+  (targetos == 'linux' ? ['CONFIG_LINUX=y'] : []) + \
   (have_pvrdma ? ['CONFIG_PVRDMA=y'] : []) + \
   (multiprocess_allowed ? ['CONFIG_MULTIPROCESS_ALLOWED=y'] : []) + \
   (vfio_user_server_allowed ? ['CONFIG_VFIO_USER_SERVER_ALLOWED=y'] : [])
@@ -2863,7 +2877,7 @@ foreach target : target_dirs
     endif
     config_target += { 'CONFIG_LINUX_USER': 'y' }
   elif target.endswith('bsd-user')
-    if 'CONFIG_BSD' not in config_host
+    if targetos not in bsd_oses
       if default_targets
         continue
       endif
@@ -2994,7 +3008,7 @@ target_dirs = actual_target_dirs
 # pseudo symbol replaces it.
 
 config_all += config_all_devices
-config_all += config_host
+config_all += config_targetos
 config_all += config_all_disas
 config_all += {
   'CONFIG_XEN': xen.found(),
@@ -3341,7 +3355,7 @@ if enable_modules
   modulecommon = declare_dependency(link_whole: libmodulecommon, compile_args: '-DBUILD_DSO')
 endif
 
-qom_ss = qom_ss.apply(config_host, strict: false)
+qom_ss = qom_ss.apply(config_targetos, strict: false)
 libqom = static_library('qom', qom_ss.sources() + genh,
                         dependencies: [qom_ss.dependencies()],
                         name_suffix: 'fa')
@@ -3515,7 +3529,7 @@ foreach d, list : target_modules
       foreach target : target_dirs
         if target.endswith('-softmmu')
           config_target = config_target_mak[target]
-          config_target += config_host
+          config_target += config_targetos
           target_inc = [include_directories('target' / config_target['TARGET_BASE_ARCH'])]
           c_args = ['-DNEED_CPU_H',
                     '-DCONFIG_TARGET="@0@-config-target.h"'.format(target),
@@ -3576,7 +3590,7 @@ qemu_syms = custom_target('qemu.syms', output: 'qemu.syms',
                              capture: true,
                              command: [undefsym, nm, '@INPUT@'])
 
-authz_ss = authz_ss.apply(config_host, strict: false)
+authz_ss = authz_ss.apply(config_targetos, strict: false)
 libauthz = static_library('authz', authz_ss.sources() + genh,
                           dependencies: [authz_ss.dependencies()],
                           name_suffix: 'fa',
@@ -3585,7 +3599,7 @@ libauthz = static_library('authz', authz_ss.sources() + genh,
 authz = declare_dependency(link_whole: libauthz,
                            dependencies: qom)
 
-crypto_ss = crypto_ss.apply(config_host, strict: false)
+crypto_ss = crypto_ss.apply(config_targetos, strict: false)
 libcrypto = static_library('crypto', crypto_ss.sources() + genh,
                            dependencies: [crypto_ss.dependencies()],
                            name_suffix: 'fa',
@@ -3594,7 +3608,7 @@ libcrypto = static_library('crypto', crypto_ss.sources() + genh,
 crypto = declare_dependency(link_whole: libcrypto,
                             dependencies: [authz, qom])
 
-io_ss = io_ss.apply(config_host, strict: false)
+io_ss = io_ss.apply(config_targetos, strict: false)
 libio = static_library('io', io_ss.sources() + genh,
                        dependencies: [io_ss.dependencies()],
                        link_with: libqemuutil,
@@ -3610,7 +3624,7 @@ migration = declare_dependency(link_with: libmigration,
                                dependencies: [zlib, qom, io])
 system_ss.add(migration)
 
-block_ss = block_ss.apply(config_host, strict: false)
+block_ss = block_ss.apply(config_targetos, strict: false)
 libblock = static_library('block', block_ss.sources() + genh,
                           dependencies: block_ss.dependencies(),
                           link_depends: block_syms,
@@ -3621,7 +3635,7 @@ block = declare_dependency(link_whole: [libblock],
                            link_args: '@block.syms',
                            dependencies: [crypto, io])
 
-blockdev_ss = blockdev_ss.apply(config_host, strict: false)
+blockdev_ss = blockdev_ss.apply(config_targetos, strict: false)
 libblockdev = static_library('blockdev', blockdev_ss.sources() + genh,
                              dependencies: blockdev_ss.dependencies(),
                              name_suffix: 'fa',
@@ -3630,7 +3644,7 @@ libblockdev = static_library('blockdev', blockdev_ss.sources() + genh,
 blockdev = declare_dependency(link_whole: [libblockdev],
                               dependencies: [block, event_loop_base])
 
-qmp_ss = qmp_ss.apply(config_host, strict: false)
+qmp_ss = qmp_ss.apply(config_targetos, strict: false)
 libqmp = static_library('qmp', qmp_ss.sources() + genh,
                         dependencies: qmp_ss.dependencies(),
                         name_suffix: 'fa',
@@ -3645,7 +3659,7 @@ libchardev = static_library('chardev', chardev_ss.sources() + genh,
 
 chardev = declare_dependency(link_whole: libchardev)
 
-hwcore_ss = hwcore_ss.apply(config_host, strict: false)
+hwcore_ss = hwcore_ss.apply(config_targetos, strict: false)
 libhwcore = static_library('hwcore', sources: hwcore_ss.sources() + genh,
                            name_suffix: 'fa',
                            build_by_default: false)
@@ -3702,7 +3716,7 @@ foreach target : target_dirs
             '-DCONFIG_DEVICES="@0@-config-devices.h"'.format(target)]
   link_args = emulator_link_args
 
-  config_target += config_host
+  config_target += config_targetos
   target_inc = [include_directories('target' / config_target['TARGET_BASE_ARCH'])]
   if targetos == 'linux'
     target_inc += include_directories('linux-headers', is_system: true)
diff --git a/qga/meson.build b/qga/meson.build
index dd18092f561..59cae0cc6ee 100644
--- a/qga/meson.build
+++ b/qga/meson.build
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ qga_ss.add(when: 'CONFIG_WIN32', if_true: files(
   'vss-win32.c'
 ))
 
-qga_ss = qga_ss.apply(config_host, strict: false)
+qga_ss = qga_ss.apply(config_targetos, strict: false)
 
 gen_tlb = []
 qga_libs = []
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ test_env.set('G_TEST_BUILDDIR', meson.current_build_dir())
 # the leak detector in build-oss-fuzz Gitlab CI test. we should re-enable
 # this when an alternative is implemented or when the underlying glib
 # issue is identified/fix
-#if 'CONFIG_POSIX' in config_host
+#if targetos != 'windows'
 if false
   srcs = [files('commands-posix-ssh.c')]
   i = 0
diff --git a/storage-daemon/meson.build b/storage-daemon/meson.build
index 49c9d2eac91..5e90cd32b40 100644
--- a/storage-daemon/meson.build
+++ b/storage-daemon/meson.build
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ qsd_ss.add(blockdev, chardev, qmp, qom, qemuutil, gnutls)
 subdir('qapi')
 
 if have_tools
-  qsd_ss = qsd_ss.apply(config_host, strict: false)
+  qsd_ss = qsd_ss.apply(config_targetos, strict: false)
   qsd = executable('qemu-storage-daemon',
                    qsd_ss.sources(),
                    dependencies: qsd_ss.dependencies(),
diff --git a/tcg/meson.build b/tcg/meson.build
index c0252c41988..0014dca7d4f 100644
--- a/tcg/meson.build
+++ b/tcg/meson.build
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ if get_option('tcg_interpreter')
   tcg_ss.add(files('tci.c'))
 endif
 
-tcg_ss = tcg_ss.apply(config_host, strict: false)
+tcg_ss = tcg_ss.apply(config_targetos, strict: false)
 
 libtcg_user = static_library('tcg_user',
                              tcg_ss.sources() + genh,
diff --git a/tests/meson.build b/tests/meson.build
index c2528a88f99..debaa4505eb 100644
--- a/tests/meson.build
+++ b/tests/meson.build
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ test_deps = {
   'test-qht-par': qht_bench,
 }
 
-if have_tools and have_vhost_user and 'CONFIG_LINUX' in config_host
+if have_tools and have_vhost_user and targetos == 'linux'
   executable('vhost-user-bridge',
              sources: files('vhost-user-bridge.c'),
              dependencies: [qemuutil, vhost_user])
diff --git a/tests/qtest/meson.build b/tests/qtest/meson.build
index c0751ef7c35..4a9b0267e50 100644
--- a/tests/qtest/meson.build
+++ b/tests/qtest/meson.build
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ qtests_cxl = \
 #        for the availability of the default NICs in the tests
 qtests_filter = \
   (get_option('default_devices') and slirp.found() ? ['test-netfilter'] : []) + \
-  (get_option('default_devices') and config_host.has_key('CONFIG_POSIX') ? ['test-filter-mirror'] : []) + \
-  (get_option('default_devices') and config_host.has_key('CONFIG_POSIX') ? ['test-filter-redirector'] : [])
+  (get_option('default_devices') and targetos != 'windows' ? ['test-filter-mirror'] : []) + \
+  (get_option('default_devices') and targetos != 'windows' ? ['test-filter-redirector'] : [])
 
 qtests_i386 = \
   (slirp.found() ? ['pxe-test'] : []) + \
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ qtests_i386 = \
   (config_all_devices.has_key('CONFIG_ISA_TESTDEV') ? ['endianness-test'] : []) +           \
   (config_all_devices.has_key('CONFIG_SGA') ? ['boot-serial-test'] : []) +                  \
   (config_all_devices.has_key('CONFIG_ISA_IPMI_KCS') ? ['ipmi-kcs-test'] : []) +            \
-  (config_host.has_key('CONFIG_LINUX') and                                                  \
+  (targetos == 'linux' and                                                                  \
    config_all_devices.has_key('CONFIG_ISA_IPMI_BT') and
    config_all_devices.has_key('CONFIG_IPMI_EXTERN') ? ['ipmi-bt-test'] : []) +              \
   (config_all_devices.has_key('CONFIG_WDT_IB700') ? ['wdt_ib700-test'] : []) +              \
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ qtests_i386 = \
   (config_all_devices.has_key('CONFIG_SB16') ? ['fuzz-sb16-test'] : []) +                   \
   (config_all_devices.has_key('CONFIG_SDHCI_PCI') ? ['fuzz-sdcard-test'] : []) +            \
   (config_all_devices.has_key('CONFIG_ESP_PCI') ? ['am53c974-test'] : []) +                 \
-  (config_host.has_key('CONFIG_POSIX') and                                                  \
+  (targetos != 'windows' and                                                                \
    config_all_devices.has_key('CONFIG_ACPI_ERST') ? ['erst-test'] : []) +                   \
   (config_all_devices.has_key('CONFIG_PCIE_PORT') and                                       \
    config_all_devices.has_key('CONFIG_VIRTIO_NET') and                                      \
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ if config_all_devices.has_key('CONFIG_VIRTIO_SERIAL')
   qos_test_ss.add(files('virtio-serial-test.c'))
 endif
 
-if config_host.has_key('CONFIG_POSIX')
+if targetos != 'windows'
   qos_test_ss.add(files('e1000e-test.c'))
 endif
 if have_virtfs
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ qtests = {
   'ivshmem-test': [rt, '../../contrib/ivshmem-server/ivshmem-server.c'],
   'migration-test': migration_files,
   'pxe-test': files('boot-sector.c'),
-  'qos-test': [chardev, io, qos_test_ss.apply(config_host, strict: false).sources()],
+  'qos-test': [chardev, io, qos_test_ss.apply(config_targetos, strict: false).sources()],
   'tpm-crb-swtpm-test': [io, tpmemu_files],
   'tpm-crb-test': [io, tpmemu_files],
   'tpm-tis-swtpm-test': [io, tpmemu_files, 'tpm-tis-util.c'],
diff --git a/tests/unit/meson.build b/tests/unit/meson.build
index 93977cc32d2..0299ef6906c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/meson.build
+++ b/tests/unit/meson.build
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ if have_block
   }
   if gnutls.found() and \
      tasn1.found() and \
-     'CONFIG_POSIX' in config_host
+     targetos != 'windows'
     tests += {
       'test-crypto-tlscredsx509': ['crypto-tls-x509-helpers.c', 'pkix_asn1_tab.c',
                                    tasn1, crypto, gnutls],
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ if have_block
   if xts == 'private'
     tests += {'test-crypto-xts': [crypto, io]}
   endif
-  if 'CONFIG_POSIX' in config_host
+  if targetos != 'windows'
     tests += {
       'test-image-locking': [testblock],
       'test-nested-aio-poll': [testblock],
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ if have_system
   # are not runnable under TSan due to a known issue.
   # https://github.com/google/sanitizers/issues/1116
   if not get_option('tsan')
-    if 'CONFIG_POSIX' in config_host
+    if targetos != 'windows'
         tests += {
           'test-char': ['socket-helpers.c', qom, io, chardev]
         }
