diff --git a/.cirrus.yml b/.cirrus.yml
index 57280fdfe2728..7deecdac49828 100644
--- a/.cirrus.yml
+++ b/.cirrus.yml
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ task:
     - env: {BUILD: distcheck}
   brew_script:
     - brew install automake libtool gcc
+    - ln -s /opt/homebrew/bin/gcc-?? /opt/homebrew/bin/gcc
   test_script:
     - ./ci/cirrus.sh
   << : *CAT_LOGS
diff --git a/ci/cirrus.sh b/ci/cirrus.sh
index fe54b5ea883c4..66119edf15fe3 100755
--- a/ci/cirrus.sh
+++ b/ci/cirrus.sh
@@ -43,6 +43,13 @@ esac
 
 env >> test_env.log
 
+# If gcc is requested, assert that it's in fact gcc (and not some symlinked Apple clang).
+case "${CC:-undefined}" in
+    *gcc*)
+        $CC -v 2>&1 | grep -q "gcc version" || exit 1;
+        ;;
+esac
+
 if [ -n "${CC+x}" ]; then
     # The MSVC compiler "cl" doesn't understand "-v"
     $CC -v || true