diff --git a/site/docs/exec-groups.md b/site/docs/exec-groups.md
index 01f637dbbcc31e..1b2a812bbafb53 100644
--- a/site/docs/exec-groups.md
+++ b/site/docs/exec-groups.md
@@ -38,10 +38,7 @@ During rule definition, rule authors can
 a set of execution groups. On each execution group, the rule author can specify
 everything needed to select an execution platform for that execution group,
 namely any constraints via `exec_compatible_with` and toolchain types via
-`toolchain`. If an execution group is created as empty (no specified toolchains
-or constraints) it will automatically inherit these
-[parameters](https://docs.bazel.build/versions/master/skylark/lib/globals.html#rule)
-from the rule to which the group is attached.
+`toolchain`.
 
 ```python
 # foo.bzl
@@ -51,7 +48,6 @@ my_rule = rule(
         “link”: exec_group(
             exec_compatible_with = [ "@platforms//os:linux" ]
             toolchains = ["//foo:toolchain_type"],
-
         ),
         “test”: exec_group(
             toolchains = ["//foo_tools:toolchain_type"],
@@ -136,3 +132,33 @@ All actions with `exec_group = "link"` would see the exec properties
 dictionary as `{"mem": "16g"}`. As you see here, execution-group-level
 settings override target-level settings.
 
+### Creating exec groups to set exec properties
+
+Sometimes you want to use an exec group to give specific actions different exec
+properties but don't actually want different toolchains or constraints than the
+rule. For these situations, you can create exec groups using the `copy_from_rule`
+parameter:
+
+```python
+# foo.bzl
+
+# Creating an exec group with `copy_from_rule=True` is the same as explicitly
+# setting the exec group's toolchains and constraints to the same values as the
+# rule's respective parameters.
+my_rule = rule(
+    _impl,
+    exec_compatible_with = [ "@platforms//os:linux" ],
+    toolchains = ["//foo:toolchain_type"],
+    exec_groups = {
+        # The following two groups have the same toolchains and constraints:
+        “foo”: exec_group(copy_from_rule = True),
+        "bar": exec_group(
+            exec_compatible_with = [ "@platforms//os:linux" ],
+            toolchains = ["//foo:toolchain_type"],
+        ),
+    },
+)
+
+#
+```
+
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/starlark/StarlarkRuleClassFunctions.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/starlark/StarlarkRuleClassFunctions.java
index 8d26841001f72c..4e112a245f72b7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/starlark/StarlarkRuleClassFunctions.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/starlark/StarlarkRuleClassFunctions.java
@@ -927,8 +927,19 @@ public Label label(String labelString, Boolean relativeToCallerRepository, Starl
 
   @Override
   public ExecGroup execGroup(
-      Sequence<?> toolchains, Sequence<?> execCompatibleWith, StarlarkThread thread)
+      Sequence<?> toolchains,
+      Sequence<?> execCompatibleWith,
+      Boolean copyFromRule,
+      StarlarkThread thread)
       throws EvalException {
+    if (copyFromRule) {
+      if (!toolchains.isEmpty() || !execCompatibleWith.isEmpty()) {
+        throw Starlark.errorf(
+            "An exec group cannot set copy_from_rule=True and declare toolchains or constraints.");
+      }
+      return ExecGroup.COPY_FROM_RULE_EXEC_GROUP;
+    }
+
     ImmutableSet<Label> toolchainTypes = ImmutableSet.copyOf(parseToolchains(toolchains, thread));
     ImmutableSet<Label> constraints =
         ImmutableSet.copyOf(parseExecCompatibleWith(execCompatibleWith, thread));
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/ExecGroup.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/ExecGroup.java
index 1c8133ee7ab27b..18d156f43572d3 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/ExecGroup.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/ExecGroup.java
@@ -24,14 +24,32 @@
 @AutoValue
 public abstract class ExecGroup implements ExecGroupApi {
 
-  static final ExecGroup EMPTY_EXEC_GROUP = create(ImmutableSet.of(), ImmutableSet.of());
+  // An exec group that inherits requirements from the rule.
+  public static final ExecGroup COPY_FROM_RULE_EXEC_GROUP =
+      createCopied(ImmutableSet.of(), ImmutableSet.of());
 
+  // Create an exec group that is marked as copying from the rule.
+  public static ExecGroup createCopied(
+      Set<Label> requiredToolchains, Set<Label> execCompatibleWith) {
+    return create(requiredToolchains, execCompatibleWith, /* copyFromRule= */ true);
+  }
+
+  // Create an exec group.
   public static ExecGroup create(Set<Label> requiredToolchains, Set<Label> execCompatibleWith) {
+    return create(requiredToolchains, execCompatibleWith, /* copyFromRule= */ false);
+  }
+
+  private static ExecGroup create(
+      Set<Label> requiredToolchains, Set<Label> execCompatibleWith, boolean copyFromRule) {
     return new AutoValue_ExecGroup(
-        ImmutableSet.copyOf(requiredToolchains), ImmutableSet.copyOf(execCompatibleWith));
+        ImmutableSet.copyOf(requiredToolchains),
+        ImmutableSet.copyOf(execCompatibleWith),
+        copyFromRule);
   }
 
   public abstract ImmutableSet<Label> requiredToolchains();
 
   public abstract ImmutableSet<Label> execCompatibleWith();
+
+  public abstract boolean copyFromRule();
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/RuleClass.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/RuleClass.java
index 5890fc2e5707cb..c1c2e5dffae2ab 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/RuleClass.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/RuleClass.java
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 import static com.google.devtools.build.lib.packages.Attribute.ANY_RULE;
 import static com.google.devtools.build.lib.packages.Attribute.attr;
 import static com.google.devtools.build.lib.packages.BuildType.LABEL_LIST;
-import static com.google.devtools.build.lib.packages.ExecGroup.EMPTY_EXEC_GROUP;
+import static com.google.devtools.build.lib.packages.ExecGroup.COPY_FROM_RULE_EXEC_GROUP;
 import static com.google.devtools.build.lib.packages.Type.BOOLEAN;
 
 import com.google.common.annotations.VisibleForTesting;
@@ -763,7 +763,24 @@ public Builder(String name, RuleClassType type, boolean starlark, RuleClass... p
         useToolchainTransition = parent.useToolchainTransition;
         addExecutionPlatformConstraints(parent.getExecutionPlatformConstraints());
         try {
-          addExecGroups(parent.getExecGroups());
+          ImmutableMap.Builder<String, ExecGroup> cleanedExecGroups = new ImmutableMap.Builder<>();
+          // For exec groups that copied toolchains and constraints from the rule, clear
+          // the toolchains and constraints. This prevents multiple inherited rule-copying exec
+          // groups with the same name from different parents from clashing. The toolchains and
+          // constraints will be overwritten with the rule's toolchains and constraints later
+          // anyway (see {@link #build}).
+          // For example, every rule that creates c++ linking actions inherits the rule-copying
+          // exec group "cpp_link". For rules that are the child of multiple of these rules,
+          // we need to clear out whatever toolchains and constraints have been copied from the rule
+          // in order to prevent clashing and fill with the the child's toolchain and constraints.
+          for (Map.Entry<String, ExecGroup> execGroup : parent.getExecGroups().entrySet()) {
+            if (execGroup.getValue().copyFromRule()) {
+              cleanedExecGroups.put(execGroup.getKey(), COPY_FROM_RULE_EXEC_GROUP);
+            } else {
+              cleanedExecGroups.put(execGroup);
+            }
+          }
+          addExecGroups(cleanedExecGroups.build());
         } catch (DuplicateExecGroupError e) {
           throw new IllegalArgumentException(
               String.format(
@@ -857,14 +874,15 @@ public RuleClass build(String name, String key) {
       // toolchains and constraints. Note that this isn't the same as a target's constraints which
       // also read from attributes and configuration.
       Map<String, ExecGroup> execGroupsWithInheritance = new HashMap<>();
-      ExecGroup inherited = null;
+      ExecGroup copiedFromRule = null;
       for (Map.Entry<String, ExecGroup> groupEntry : execGroups.entrySet()) {
         ExecGroup group = groupEntry.getValue();
-        if (group.equals(EMPTY_EXEC_GROUP)) {
-          if (inherited == null) {
-            inherited = ExecGroup.create(requiredToolchains, executionPlatformConstraints);
+        if (group.copyFromRule()) {
+          if (copiedFromRule == null) {
+            copiedFromRule =
+                ExecGroup.createCopied(requiredToolchains, executionPlatformConstraints);
           }
-          execGroupsWithInheritance.put(groupEntry.getKey(), inherited);
+          execGroupsWithInheritance.put(groupEntry.getKey(), copiedFromRule);
         } else {
           execGroupsWithInheritance.put(groupEntry.getKey(), group);
         }
@@ -1471,12 +1489,9 @@ public Builder addExecGroups(Map<String, ExecGroup> execGroups) {
       return this;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Adds an exec group that is empty. During {@code build()} this will be replaced by an exec
-     * group that inherits its toolchains and constraints from the rule.
-     */
+    /** Adds an exec group that copies its toolchains and constraints from the rule. */
     public Builder addExecGroup(String name) {
-      return addExecGroups(ImmutableMap.of(name, EMPTY_EXEC_GROUP));
+      return addExecGroups(ImmutableMap.of(name, COPY_FROM_RULE_EXEC_GROUP));
     }
 
     /** An error to help report {@link ExecGroup}s with the same name */
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/starlarkbuildapi/StarlarkRuleFunctionsApi.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/starlarkbuildapi/StarlarkRuleFunctionsApi.java
index 949a1ee6e567a1..8b3dc0f9a1fb15 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/starlarkbuildapi/StarlarkRuleFunctionsApi.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/starlarkbuildapi/StarlarkRuleFunctionsApi.java
@@ -560,9 +560,21 @@ Label label(String labelString, Boolean relativeToCallerRepository, StarlarkThre
             positional = false,
             defaultValue = "[]",
             doc = "<i>Experimental</i> A list of constraints on the execution platform."),
+        @Param(
+            name = "copy_from_rule",
+            defaultValue = "False",
+            named = true,
+            positional = false,
+            doc =
+                "<i>Experimental</i> If set to true, this exec group inherits the toolchains and "
+                    + "constraints of the rule to which this group is attached. If set to any "
+                    + "other string this will throw an error.")
       },
       useStarlarkThread = true)
   ExecGroupApi execGroup(
-      Sequence<?> execCompatibleWith, Sequence<?> toolchains, StarlarkThread thread)
+      Sequence<?> execCompatibleWith,
+      Sequence<?> toolchains,
+      Boolean copyFromRule,
+      StarlarkThread thread)
       throws EvalException;
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/skydoc/fakebuildapi/FakeStarlarkRuleFunctionsApi.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/skydoc/fakebuildapi/FakeStarlarkRuleFunctionsApi.java
index 1573f18501f6c9..746dd6c88c04aa 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/skydoc/fakebuildapi/FakeStarlarkRuleFunctionsApi.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/skydoc/fakebuildapi/FakeStarlarkRuleFunctionsApi.java
@@ -226,7 +226,10 @@ public StarlarkAspectApi aspect(
 
   @Override
   public ExecGroupApi execGroup(
-      Sequence<?> execCompatibleWith, Sequence<?> toolchains, StarlarkThread thread) {
+      Sequence<?> execCompatibleWith,
+      Sequence<?> toolchains,
+      Boolean copyFromRule,
+      StarlarkThread thread) {
     return new FakeExecGroup();
   }
 
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/StarlarkExecGroupTest.java b/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/StarlarkExecGroupTest.java
index 64fd5b84bc286d..b9185be8a4eba9 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/StarlarkExecGroupTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/StarlarkExecGroupTest.java
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ public void testSetUnknownExecGroup() throws Exception {
   }
 
   @Test
-  public void testEmptyExecGroupInherits() throws Exception {
+  public void testInheritsRuleRequirements() throws Exception {
     createToolchainsAndPlatforms();
     scratch.file(
         "test/defs.bzl",
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ public void testEmptyExecGroupInherits() throws Exception {
         "my_rule = rule(",
         "  implementation = _impl,",
         "  exec_groups = {",
-        "    'watermelon': exec_group(),",
+        "    'watermelon': exec_group(copy_from_rule = True),",
         "  },",
         "  exec_compatible_with = ['//platform:constraint_1'],",
         "  toolchains = ['//rule:toolchain_type_1'],",
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ public void testEmptyExecGroupInherits() throws Exception {
     assertThat(getRuleContext(ct).getRule().getRuleClassObject().getExecGroups())
         .containsExactly(
             "watermelon",
-            ExecGroup.create(
+            ExecGroup.createCopied(
                 ImmutableSet.of(Label.parseAbsoluteUnchecked("//rule:toolchain_type_1")),
                 ImmutableSet.of(Label.parseAbsoluteUnchecked("//platform:constraint_1"))));
   }
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/RuleClassBuilderTest.java b/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/RuleClassBuilderTest.java
index 73e303c9f1ec7e..8514c316f06181 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/RuleClassBuilderTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/RuleClassBuilderTest.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 import static com.google.common.truth.Truth.assertThat;
 import static com.google.devtools.build.lib.packages.Attribute.attr;
+import static com.google.devtools.build.lib.packages.ExecGroup.COPY_FROM_RULE_EXEC_GROUP;
 import static com.google.devtools.build.lib.packages.Type.BOOLEAN;
 import static com.google.devtools.build.lib.packages.Type.INTEGER;
 import static com.google.devtools.build.lib.packages.Type.STRING;
@@ -216,25 +217,33 @@ public void testExecGroupsAreInherited() throws Exception {
   }
 
   @Test
-  public void testDuplicateExecGroupsThatAreEqualIsOk() throws Exception {
-    ExecGroup execGroup =
-        ExecGroup.create(
-            ImmutableSet.of(Label.parseAbsoluteUnchecked("//some/toolchain")),
-            ImmutableSet.of(Label.parseAbsoluteUnchecked("//some/constraint")));
+  public void testDuplicateExecGroupsThatInheritFromRuleIsOk() throws Exception {
+    Label aToolchain = Label.parseAbsoluteUnchecked("//some/toolchain");
     RuleClass a =
         new RuleClass.Builder("ruleA", RuleClassType.NORMAL, false)
             .factory(DUMMY_CONFIGURED_TARGET_FACTORY)
-            .addExecGroups(ImmutableMap.of("blueberry", execGroup))
+            .addExecGroups(ImmutableMap.of("blueberry", COPY_FROM_RULE_EXEC_GROUP))
             .add(attr("tags", STRING_LIST))
+            .addRequiredToolchains(Label.parseAbsoluteUnchecked("//some/toolchain"))
             .build();
+    Label bToolchain = Label.parseAbsoluteUnchecked("//some/other/toolchain");
     RuleClass b =
         new RuleClass.Builder("ruleB", RuleClassType.NORMAL, false)
             .factory(DUMMY_CONFIGURED_TARGET_FACTORY)
-            .addExecGroups(ImmutableMap.of("blueberry", execGroup))
+            .addExecGroups(ImmutableMap.of("blueberry", COPY_FROM_RULE_EXEC_GROUP))
             .add(attr("tags", STRING_LIST))
+            .addRequiredToolchains(Label.parseAbsoluteUnchecked("//some/other/toolchain"))
             .build();
-    RuleClass c = new RuleClass.Builder("$ruleC", RuleClassType.ABSTRACT, false, a, b).build();
-    assertThat(c.getExecGroups()).containsExactly("blueberry", execGroup);
+    Label cToolchain = Label.parseAbsoluteUnchecked("//actual/toolchain/we/care/about");
+    RuleClass c =
+        new RuleClass.Builder("$ruleC", RuleClassType.ABSTRACT, false, a, b)
+            .addRequiredToolchains(cToolchain)
+            .build();
+    assertThat(c.getExecGroups())
+        .containsExactly(
+            "blueberry",
+            ExecGroup.createCopied(
+                ImmutableSet.of(aToolchain, bToolchain, cToolchain), ImmutableSet.of()));
   }
 
   @Test