diff --git a/build/config/BUILDCONFIG.gn b/build/config/BUILDCONFIG.gn
index 79197d7d0c72d..0bf754e89a08c 100644
--- a/build/config/BUILDCONFIG.gn
+++ b/build/config/BUILDCONFIG.gn
@@ -472,6 +472,7 @@ _native_compiler_configs = [
 ]
 if (is_win) {
   _native_compiler_configs += [
+    "//build/config/win:default_crt",
     "//build/config/win:lean_and_mean",
     "//build/config/win:nominmax",
     "//build/config/win:unicode",
diff --git a/build/config/win/BUILD.gn b/build/config/win/BUILD.gn
index 852a86230f44b..f7babb72f0497 100644
--- a/build/config/win/BUILD.gn
+++ b/build/config/win/BUILD.gn
@@ -183,33 +183,6 @@ config("runtime_library") {
     # However it is prohibited when using /analyze
     defines += [ "_USING_V110_SDK71_" ]
   }
-
-  if (is_component_build) {
-    # Component mode: dynamic CRT. Since the library is shared, it requires
-    # exceptions or will give errors about things not matching, so keep
-    # exceptions on.
-    if (is_debug) {
-      cflags += [ "/MDd" ]
-    } else {
-      cflags += [ "/MD" ]
-    }
-  } else {
-    if (current_os != "win") {
-      # WindowsRT: use the dynamic CRT.
-      if (is_debug) {
-        cflags += [ "/MDd" ]
-      } else {
-        cflags += [ "/MD" ]
-      }
-    } else {
-      # Desktop Windows: static CRT.
-      if (is_debug) {
-        cflags += [ "/MTd" ]
-      } else {
-        cflags += [ "/MT" ]
-      }
-    }
-  }
 }
 
 # Sets the default Windows build version. This is separated because some
@@ -278,6 +251,44 @@ config("common_linker_setup") {
   }
 }
 
+# CRT --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Configures how the runtime library (CRT) is going to be used.
+# See https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/2kzt1wy3.aspx for a reference of
+# what each value does.
+config("default_crt") {
+  if (is_component_build) {
+    # Component mode: dynamic CRT. Since the library is shared, it requires
+    # exceptions or will give errors about things not matching, so keep
+    # exceptions on.
+    configs = [ ":dynamic_crt" ]
+  } else {
+    if (current_os != "win") {
+      # WindowsRT: use the dynamic CRT.
+      configs = [ ":dynamic_crt" ]
+    } else {
+      # Desktop Windows: static CRT.
+      configs = [ ":static_crt" ]
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+config("dynamic_crt") {
+  if (is_debug) {
+    cflags = [ "/MDd" ]
+  } else {
+    cflags = [ "/MD" ]
+  }
+}
+
+config("static_crt") {
+  if (is_debug) {
+    cflags = [ "/MTd" ]
+  } else {
+    cflags = [ "/MT" ]
+  }
+}
+
 # Subsystem --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # This is appended to the subsystem to specify a minimum version.