diff --git a/make_helpers/toolchain.mk b/make_helpers/toolchain.mk
index 2f47647..8e55619 100644
--- a/make_helpers/toolchain.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/toolchain.mk
@@ -17,48 +17,6 @@
 
 toolchains ?= host $(ARCH)
 
-ifneq ($(filter host,$(toolchains)),)
-        host-cc := $(HOSTCC)
-        host-cpp := $(HOSTCPP)
-
-        host-as := $(HOSTAS)
-
-        host-ld := $(HOSTLD)
-        host-oc := $(HOSTOC)
-        host-od := $(HOSTOD)
-        host-ar := $(HOSTAR)
-
-        host-dtc := $(HOSTDTC)
-endif
-
-ifneq ($(filter aarch32,$(toolchains)),)
-        aarch32-cc := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin CC)),$(CC))
-        aarch32-cpp := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin CPP)),$(CPP))
-
-        aarch32-as := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin AS)),$(AS))
-
-        aarch32-ld := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin LD)),$(LD))
-        aarch32-oc := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin OC)),$(OC))
-        aarch32-od := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin OD)),$(OD))
-        aarch32-ar := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin AR)),$(AR))
-
-        aarch32-dtc := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin DTC)),$(DTC))
-endif
-
-ifneq ($(filter aarch64,$(toolchains)),)
-        aarch64-cc := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin CC)),$(CC))
-        aarch64-cpp := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin CPP)),$(CPP))
-
-        aarch64-as := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin AS)),$(AS))
-
-        aarch64-ld := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin LD)),$(LD))
-        aarch64-oc := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin OC)),$(OC))
-        aarch64-od := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin OD)),$(OD))
-        aarch64-ar := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin AR)),$(AR))
-
-        aarch64-dtc := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin DTC)),$(DTC))
-endif
-
 include $(dir $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST)))build_env.mk
 include $(dir $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST)))utilities.mk
 
@@ -72,21 +30,29 @@
 # or type of tool in the toolchain.
 #
 
-# C-related tools
-tool-classes := cc # C compilers
-tool-classes += cpp # C preprocessors
+tool-classes := cc
+tool-class-name-cc := C compiler
 
-# Assembly-related tools
-tool-classes += as # Assemblers
+tool-classes += cpp
+tool-class-name-cpp := C preprocessor
 
-# Linking and object-handling tools
-tool-classes += ld # Linkers
-tool-classes += oc # Object copiers
-tool-classes += od # Object dumpers
-tool-classes += ar # Archivers
+tool-classes += as
+tool-class-name-as := assembler
 
-# Other tools
-tool-classes += dtc # Device tree compilers
+tool-classes += ld
+tool-class-name-ld := linker
+
+tool-classes += oc
+tool-class-name-oc := object copier
+
+tool-classes += od
+tool-class-name-od := object dumper
+
+tool-classes += ar
+tool-class-name-ar := archiver
+
+tool-classes += dtc
+tool-class-name-dtc := device tree compiler
 
 #
 # Configure tools that we recognize.
@@ -96,28 +62,54 @@
 # further down.
 #
 
-# Arm Compiler for Embedded
-tools := arm-clang # armclang
-tools += arm-link # armlink
-tools += arm-ar # armar
-tools += arm-fromelf # fromelf
+# Arm® Compiler for Embedded
+tools := arm-clang
+tool-name-arm-clang := Arm® Compiler for Embedded `armclang`
+
+tools += arm-link
+tool-name-arm-link := Arm® Compiler for Embedded `armlink`
+
+tools += arm-ar
+tool-name-arm-ar := Arm® Compiler for Embedded `armar`
+
+tools += arm-fromelf
+tool-name-arm-fromelf := Arm® Compiler for Embedded `fromelf`
 
 # LLVM Project
-tools += llvm-clang # clang
-tools += llvm-lld # lld
-tools += llvm-objcopy # llvm-objcopy
-tools += llvm-objdump # llvm-objdump
-tools += llvm-ar # llvm-ar
+tools += llvm-clang
+tool-name-llvm-clang := LLVM Clang (`clang`)
+
+tools += llvm-lld
+tool-name-llvm-lld := LLVM LLD (`lld`)
+
+tools += llvm-objcopy
+tool-name-llvm-objcopy := LLVM `llvm-objcopy`
+
+tools += llvm-objdump
+tool-name-llvm-objdump := LLVM `llvm-objdump`
+
+tools += llvm-ar
+tool-name-llvm-ar := LLVM `llvm-ar`
 
 # GNU Compiler Collection & GNU Binary Utilities
-tools += gnu-gcc # gcc
-tools += gnu-ld # ld
-tools += gnu-objcopy # objcopy
-tools += gnu-objdump # objdump
-tools += gnu-ar # gcc-ar
+tools += gnu-gcc
+tool-name-gnu-gcc := GNU GCC (`gcc`)
+
+tools += gnu-ld
+tool-name-gnu-ld := GNU LD (`ld.bfd`)
+
+tools += gnu-objcopy
+tool-name-gnu-objcopy := GNU `objcopy`
+
+tools += gnu-objdump
+tool-name-gnu-objdump := GNU `objdump`
+
+tools += gnu-ar
+tool-name-gnu-ar := GNU `ar`
 
 # Other tools
-tools += dtc # Device Tree Compiler
+tools += generic-dtc
+tool-name-generic-dtc := Device Tree Compiler (`dtc`)
 
 #
 # Assign tools to tool classes.
@@ -142,7 +134,7 @@
 tools-ar := arm-ar llvm-ar gnu-ar # Archivers
 
 # Other tools
-tools-dtc := dtc # Device tree compilers
+tools-dtc := generic-dtc # Device tree compilers
 
 define check-tool-class-tools
         $(eval tool-class := $(1))
@@ -224,27 +216,27 @@
 #
 
 # Arm Compiler for Embedded
-guess-tool-arm-clang = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --version 2>&1  <$(nul) | grep -o "Tool: armclang")
-guess-tool-arm-link = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --help 2>&1  <$(nul) | grep -o "Tool: armlink")
-guess-tool-arm-fromelf = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --help 2>&1  <$(nul) | grep -o "Tool: fromelf")
-guess-tool-arm-ar = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --version 2>&1  <$(nul) | grep -o "Tool: armar")
+guess-tool-arm-clang = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --version 2>&1 <$(nul) | grep -o "Tool: armclang")
+guess-tool-arm-link = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --help 2>&1 <$(nul) | grep -o "Tool: armlink")
+guess-tool-arm-fromelf = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --help 2>&1 <$(nul) | grep -o "Tool: fromelf")
+guess-tool-arm-ar = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --version 2>&1 <$(nul) | grep -o "Tool: armar")
 
 # LLVM Project
-guess-tool-llvm-clang = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) -v 2>&1  <$(nul) | grep -o "clang version")
-guess-tool-llvm-lld = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --help 2>&1  <$(nul) | grep -o "OVERVIEW: lld")
-guess-tool-llvm-objcopy = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --help 2>&1  <$(nul) | grep -o "llvm-objcopy tool")
-guess-tool-llvm-objdump = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --help 2>&1  <$(nul) | grep -o "llvm object file dumper")
-guess-tool-llvm-ar = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --help 2>&1  <$(nul) | grep -o "LLVM Archiver")
+guess-tool-llvm-clang = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) -v 2>&1 <$(nul) | grep -o "clang version")
+guess-tool-llvm-lld = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --help 2>&1 <$(nul) | grep -o "OVERVIEW: lld")
+guess-tool-llvm-objcopy = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --help 2>&1 <$(nul) | grep -o "llvm-objcopy tool")
+guess-tool-llvm-objdump = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --help 2>&1 <$(nul) | grep -o "llvm object file dumper")
+guess-tool-llvm-ar = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --help 2>&1 <$(nul) | grep -o "LLVM Archiver")
 
 # GNU Compiler Collection & GNU Binary Utilities
-guess-tool-gnu-gcc = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) -v 2>&1  <$(nul) | grep -o "gcc version")
-guess-tool-gnu-ld = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) -v 2>&1  <$(nul) | grep -o "GNU ld")
-guess-tool-gnu-objcopy = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --version 2>&1  <$(nul) | grep -o "GNU objcopy")
-guess-tool-gnu-objdump = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --version 2>&1  <$(nul) | grep -o "GNU objdump")
-guess-tool-gnu-ar = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --version 2>&1  <$(nul) | grep -o "GNU ar")
+guess-tool-gnu-gcc = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) -v 2>&1 <$(nul) | grep -o "gcc version")
+guess-tool-gnu-ld = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) -v 2>&1 <$(nul) | grep -o "GNU ld")
+guess-tool-gnu-objcopy = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --version 2>&1 <$(nul) | grep -o "GNU objcopy")
+guess-tool-gnu-objdump = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --version 2>&1 <$(nul) | grep -o "GNU objdump")
+guess-tool-gnu-ar = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --version 2>&1 <$(nul) | grep -o "GNU ar")
 
 # Other tools
-guess-tool-dtc = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --version 2>&1  <$(nul) | grep -o "Version: DTC")
+guess-tool-generic-dtc = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --version 2>&1 <$(nul) | grep -o "Version: DTC")
 
 guess-tool = $(firstword $(foreach candidate,$(1), \
         $(if $(call guess-tool-$(candidate),$(2)),$(candidate))))
@@ -294,11 +286,44 @@
 guess-gnu-gcc-od = $(shell $(call escape-shell,$(1)) --print-prog-name objdump 2>$(nul))
 guess-gnu-gcc-ar = $(call which,$(call decompat-path,$(patsubst %$(call file-name,$(1)),%$(subst gcc,gcc-ar,$(call file-name,$(1))),$(call compat-path,$(1)))))
 
+define warn-unrecognized-tool
+        $(eval toolchain := $(1))
+        $(eval tool-class := $(2))
+
+        $$(warning )
+        $$(warning The configured $$($(toolchain)-name) $$(tool-class-name-$(tool-class)) could not be identified and may not be supported:)
+        $$(warning )
+        $$(warning $$(space)   $$($(toolchain)-$(tool-class)))
+        $$(warning )
+        $$(warning The default $$($(toolchain)-name) $$(tool-class-name-$(tool-class)) is:)
+        $$(warning )
+        $$(warning $$(space)   $$($(toolchain)-$(tool-class)-default))
+        $$(warning )
+        $$(warning The following tools are supported:)
+        $$(warning )
+
+        $$(foreach tool,$$(tools-$(tool-class)), \
+                $$(warning $$(space) - $$(tool-name-$$(tool))))
+
+        $$(warning )
+        $$(warning The build system will treat this $$(tool-class-name-$(tool-class)) as $$(tool-name-$$($(toolchain)-$(tool-class)-id-default)).)
+        $$(warning )
+endef
+
 define locate-toolchain-tool-cc
         $(eval toolchain := $(1))
 
         $(toolchain)-cc := $$(or $$($(toolchain)-cc),$$($(toolchain)-cc-default))
         $(toolchain)-cc-id := $$(call guess-tool,$$(tools-cc),$$($(toolchain)-cc))
+
+        ifndef $(toolchain)-cc-id
+                $(toolchain)-cc-id := $$($(toolchain)-cc-id-default)
+
+                $$(eval $$(call warn-unrecognized-tool,$(toolchain),cc))
+        endif
+
+        $(toolchain)-cc-path := $$($(toolchain)-cc)
+        $(toolchain)-cc := $$(call escape-shell,$$($(toolchain)-cc))
 endef
 
 define locate-toolchain-tool
@@ -308,33 +333,29 @@
         ifndef $(toolchain)-$(tool-class)
                 $(toolchain)-$(tool-class) := $$(call guess-$$($(toolchain)-cc-id)-$(tool-class),$$($(toolchain)-cc-path))
 
-                ifeq ($$($(toolchain)-$(tool-class)),)
+                ifndef $(toolchain)-$(tool-class)
                         $(toolchain)-$(tool-class) := $$($(toolchain)-$(tool-class)-default)
                 endif
         endif
 
-        $(toolchain)-$(tool-class)-id := $$(call guess-tool,$$(tools-$(tool-class)),$$($$(toolchain)-$(tool-class)))
-endef
+        $(toolchain)-$(tool-class)-id := $$(call guess-tool,$$(tools-$(tool-class)),$$($(toolchain)-$(tool-class)))
 
-define canonicalize-toolchain-tool-path
-        $(eval toolchain := $(1))
-        $(eval tool-class := $(2))
+        ifndef $(toolchain)-$(tool-class)-id
+                $(toolchain)-$(tool-class)-id := $$($(toolchain)-$(tool-class)-id-default)
 
-        $(toolchain)-$(tool-class)-path := $$(call absolute-path,$$(call which,$$($(toolchain)-$(tool-class))))
-        $(toolchain)-$(tool-class)-path := $$(or $$($(toolchain)-$(tool-class)-path),$$($(toolchain)-$(tool-class)))
+                $$(eval $$(call warn-unrecognized-tool,$(toolchain),$(tool-class)))
+        endif
 
-        $(toolchain)-$(tool-class) := $(call escape-shell,$$($(toolchain)-$(tool-class)-path))
+        $(toolchain)-$(tool-class) := $$(call escape-shell,$$($(toolchain)-$(tool-class)))
 endef
 
 define locate-toolchain
         $(eval toolchain := $(1))
 
         $$(eval $$(call locate-toolchain-tool-cc,$(toolchain)))
-        $$(eval $$(call canonicalize-toolchain-tool-path,$(toolchain),cc))
 
         $$(foreach tool-class,$$(filter-out cc,$$(tool-classes)), \
-                $$(eval $$(call locate-toolchain-tool,$(toolchain),$$(tool-class))) \
-                $$(eval $$(call canonicalize-toolchain-tool-path,$(toolchain),$$(tool-class))))
+                $$(eval $$(call locate-toolchain-tool,$(toolchain),$$(tool-class))))
 endef
 
 $(foreach toolchain,$(toolchains), \
diff --git a/make_helpers/toolchains/aarch32.mk b/make_helpers/toolchains/aarch32.mk
index 3475c91..ff00a53 100644
--- a/make_helpers/toolchains/aarch32.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/toolchains/aarch32.mk
@@ -4,11 +4,36 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
 
+aarch32-name := AArch32
+
+aarch32-cc := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin CC)),$(CC))
 aarch32-cc-default := $(or $(CROSS_COMPILE),arm-none-eabi-)gcc
+aarch32-cc-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
+aarch32-cpp := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin CPP)),$(CPP))
 aarch32-cpp-default := $(or $(CROSS_COMPILE),arm-none-eabi-)gcc
+aarch32-cpp-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
+aarch32-as := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin AS)),$(AS))
 aarch32-as-default := $(or $(CROSS_COMPILE),arm-none-eabi-)gcc
+aarch32-as-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
+aarch32-ld := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin LD)),$(LD))
 aarch32-ld-default := $(or $(CROSS_COMPILE),arm-none-eabi-)gcc
+aarch32-ld-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
+aarch32-oc := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin OC)),$(OC))
 aarch32-oc-default := $(or $(CROSS_COMPILE),arm-none-eabi-)objcopy
+aarch32-oc-id-default := gnu-objcopy
+
+aarch32-od := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin OD)),$(OD))
 aarch32-od-default := $(or $(CROSS_COMPILE),arm-none-eabi-)objdump
+aarch32-od-id-default := gnu-objdump
+
+aarch32-ar := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin AR)),$(AR))
 aarch32-ar-default := $(or $(CROSS_COMPILE),arm-none-eabi-)gcc-ar
+aarch32-ar-id-default := gnu-ar
+
+aarch32-dtc := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin DTC)),$(DTC))
 aarch32-dtc-default := dtc
+aarch32-dtc-id-default := generic-dtc
diff --git a/make_helpers/toolchains/aarch64.mk b/make_helpers/toolchains/aarch64.mk
index d83d918..407f068 100644
--- a/make_helpers/toolchains/aarch64.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/toolchains/aarch64.mk
@@ -4,11 +4,36 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
 
+aarch64-name := AArch64
+
+aarch64-cc := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin CC)),$(CC))
 aarch64-cc-default := $(or $(CROSS_COMPILE),aarch64-none-elf-)gcc
+aarch64-cc-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
+aarch64-cpp := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin CPP)),$(CPP))
 aarch64-cpp-default := $(or $(CROSS_COMPILE),aarch64-none-elf-)gcc
+aarch64-cpp-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
+aarch64-as := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin AS)),$(AS))
 aarch64-as-default := $(or $(CROSS_COMPILE),aarch64-none-elf-)gcc
+aarch64-as-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
+aarch64-ld := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin LD)),$(LD))
 aarch64-ld-default := $(or $(CROSS_COMPILE),aarch64-none-elf-)gcc
+aarch64-ld-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
+aarch64-oc := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin OC)),$(OC))
 aarch64-oc-default := $(or $(CROSS_COMPILE),aarch64-none-elf-)objcopy
+aarch64-oc-id-default := gnu-objcopy
+
+aarch64-od := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin OD)),$(OD))
 aarch64-od-default := $(or $(CROSS_COMPILE),aarch64-none-elf-)objdump
+aarch64-od-id-default := gnu-objdump
+
+aarch64-ar := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin AR)),$(AR))
 aarch64-ar-default := $(or $(CROSS_COMPILE),aarch64-none-elf-)gcc-ar
+aarch64-ar-id-default := gnu-ar
+
+aarch64-dtc := $(if $(filter-out default,$(origin DTC)),$(DTC))
 aarch64-dtc-default := dtc
+aarch64-dtc-id-default := generic-dtc
diff --git a/make_helpers/toolchains/host.mk b/make_helpers/toolchains/host.mk
index fe3fc1c..733c289 100644
--- a/make_helpers/toolchains/host.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/toolchains/host.mk
@@ -1,14 +1,39 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2023, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2023-2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
 
+host-name := host
+
+host-cc := $(HOSTCC)
 host-cc-default := gcc
+host-cc-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
+host-cpp := $(HOSTCPP)
 host-cpp-default := gcc
+host-cpp-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
+host-as := $(HOSTAS)
 host-as-default := gcc
+host-as-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
+host-ld := $(HOSTLD)
 host-ld-default := gcc
+host-ld-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
+host-oc := $(HOSTOC)
 host-oc-default := objcopy
+host-oc-id-default := gnu-objcopy
+
+host-od := $(HOSTOD)
 host-od-default := objdump
+host-od-id-default := gnu-objdump
+
+host-ar := $(HOSTAR)
 host-ar-default := gcc-ar
+host-ar-id-default := gnu-ar
+
+host-dtc := $(HOSTDTC)
 host-dtc-default := dtc
+host-dtc-id-default := generic-dtc
diff --git a/make_helpers/toolchains/rk3399-m0.mk b/make_helpers/toolchains/rk3399-m0.mk
index f57d658..92309f1 100644
--- a/make_helpers/toolchains/rk3399-m0.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/toolchains/rk3399-m0.mk
@@ -4,11 +4,28 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 #
 
+rk3399-m0-name := RK3399 M0
+
 rk3399-m0-cc-default := $(or $(M0_CROSS_COMPILE),arm-none-eabi-)gcc
+rk3399-m0-cc-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
 rk3399-m0-cpp-default := $(or $(M0_CROSS_COMPILE),arm-none-eabi-)gcc
+rk3399-m0-cpp-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
 rk3399-m0-as-default := $(or $(M0_CROSS_COMPILE),arm-none-eabi-)gcc
+rk3399-m0-as-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
 rk3399-m0-ld-default := $(or $(M0_CROSS_COMPILE),arm-none-eabi-)gcc
+rk3399-m0-ld-id-default := gnu-gcc
+
 rk3399-m0-oc-default := $(or $(M0_CROSS_COMPILE),arm-none-eabi-)objcopy
+rk3399-m0-oc-id-default := gnu-objcopy
+
 rk3399-m0-od-default := $(or $(M0_CROSS_COMPILE),arm-none-eabi-)objdump
+rk3399-m0-od-id-default := gnu-objdump
+
 rk3399-m0-ar-default := $(or $(M0_CROSS_COMPILE),arm-none-eabi-)gcc-ar
+rk3399-m0-ar-id-default := gnu-ar
+
 rk3399-m0-dtc-default := dtc
+rk3399-m0-dtc-id-default := generic-dtc