diff --git a/src/cmd/go/internal/work/action.go b/src/cmd/go/internal/work/action.go
index 723dc2b127..c4cee8947c 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/work/action.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/work/action.go
@@ -461,6 +461,34 @@ func (ba *buildActor) Act(b *Builder, ctx context.Context, a *Action) error {
 	return b.build(ctx, a)
 }
 
+// pgoActor implements the Actor interface for preprocessing PGO profiles.
+type pgoActor struct {
+	// input is the path to the original pprof profile.
+	input string
+}
+
+func (p *pgoActor) Act(b *Builder, ctx context.Context, a *Action) error {
+	// TODO(prattmic): Integrate with build cache to cache output.
+
+	sh := b.Shell(a)
+
+	if err := sh.Mkdir(a.Objdir); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// TODO(prattmic): This should use go tool preprofile to actually
+	// preprocess the profile. For now, this is a dummy implementation that
+	// simply copies the input to the output. This is technically a valid
+	// implementation because go tool compile -pgofile accepts either a
+	// pprof file or preprocessed file.
+	if err := sh.CopyFile(a.Target, p.input, 0644, false); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	a.built = a.Target
+	return nil
+}
+
 // CompileAction returns the action for compiling and possibly installing
 // (according to mode) the given package. The resulting action is only
 // for building packages (archives), never for linking executables.
@@ -494,6 +522,20 @@ func (b *Builder) CompileAction(mode, depMode BuildMode, p *load.Package) *Actio
 			}
 		}
 
+		if p.Internal.PGOProfile != "" {
+			pgoAction := b.cacheAction("preprocess PGO profile "+p.Internal.PGOProfile, nil, func() *Action {
+				a := &Action{
+					Mode:    "preprocess PGO profile",
+					Actor:   &pgoActor{input: p.Internal.PGOProfile},
+					Objdir:  b.NewObjdir(),
+				}
+				a.Target = filepath.Join(a.Objdir, "pgo.preprofile")
+
+				return a
+			})
+			a.Deps = append(a.Deps, pgoAction)
+		}
+
 		if p.Standard {
 			switch p.ImportPath {
 			case "builtin", "unsafe":
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/internal/work/exec.go b/src/cmd/go/internal/work/exec.go
index 505186da08..a3d1533899 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/work/exec.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/work/exec.go
@@ -395,14 +395,14 @@ func (b *Builder) buildActionID(a *Action) cache.ActionID {
 	for _, file := range inputFiles {
 		fmt.Fprintf(h, "file %s %s\n", file, b.fileHash(filepath.Join(p.Dir, file)))
 	}
-	if p.Internal.PGOProfile != "" {
-		fmt.Fprintf(h, "pgofile %s\n", b.fileHash(p.Internal.PGOProfile))
-	}
 	for _, a1 := range a.Deps {
 		p1 := a1.Package
 		if p1 != nil {
 			fmt.Fprintf(h, "import %s %s\n", p1.ImportPath, contentID(a1.buildID))
 		}
+		if a1.Mode == "preprocess PGO profile" {
+			fmt.Fprintf(h, "pgofile %s\n", b.fileHash(a1.built))
+		}
 	}
 
 	return h.Sum()
@@ -864,6 +864,18 @@ OverlayLoop:
 		embedcfg = js
 	}
 
+	// Find PGO profile if needed.
+	var pgoProfile string
+	for _, a1 := range a.Deps {
+		if a1.Mode != "preprocess PGO profile" {
+			continue
+		}
+		if pgoProfile != "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("action contains multiple PGO profile dependencies")
+		}
+		pgoProfile = a1.built
+	}
+
 	if p.Internal.BuildInfo != nil && cfg.ModulesEnabled {
 		prog := modload.ModInfoProg(p.Internal.BuildInfo.String(), cfg.BuildToolchainName == "gccgo")
 		if len(prog) > 0 {
@@ -876,7 +888,7 @@ OverlayLoop:
 
 	// Compile Go.
 	objpkg := objdir + "_pkg_.a"
-	ofile, out, err := BuildToolchain.gc(b, a, objpkg, icfg.Bytes(), embedcfg, symabis, len(sfiles) > 0, gofiles)
+	ofile, out, err := BuildToolchain.gc(b, a, objpkg, icfg.Bytes(), embedcfg, symabis, len(sfiles) > 0, pgoProfile, gofiles)
 	if err := sh.reportCmd("", "", out, err); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -2041,7 +2053,7 @@ func mkAbs(dir, f string) string {
 type toolchain interface {
 	// gc runs the compiler in a specific directory on a set of files
 	// and returns the name of the generated output file.
-	gc(b *Builder, a *Action, archive string, importcfg, embedcfg []byte, symabis string, asmhdr bool, gofiles []string) (ofile string, out []byte, err error)
+	gc(b *Builder, a *Action, archive string, importcfg, embedcfg []byte, symabis string, asmhdr bool, pgoProfile string, gofiles []string) (ofile string, out []byte, err error)
 	// cc runs the toolchain's C compiler in a directory on a C file
 	// to produce an output file.
 	cc(b *Builder, a *Action, ofile, cfile string) error
@@ -2081,7 +2093,7 @@ func (noToolchain) linker() string {
 	return ""
 }
 
-func (noToolchain) gc(b *Builder, a *Action, archive string, importcfg, embedcfg []byte, symabis string, asmhdr bool, gofiles []string) (ofile string, out []byte, err error) {
+func (noToolchain) gc(b *Builder, a *Action, archive string, importcfg, embedcfg []byte, symabis string, asmhdr bool, pgoProfile string, gofiles []string) (ofile string, out []byte, err error) {
 	return "", nil, noCompiler()
 }
 
@@ -3252,7 +3264,7 @@ func (b *Builder) swigDoIntSize(objdir string) (intsize string, err error) {
 
 	p := load.GoFilesPackage(context.TODO(), load.PackageOpts{}, srcs)
 
-	if _, _, e := BuildToolchain.gc(b, &Action{Mode: "swigDoIntSize", Package: p, Objdir: objdir}, "", nil, nil, "", false, srcs); e != nil {
+	if _, _, e := BuildToolchain.gc(b, &Action{Mode: "swigDoIntSize", Package: p, Objdir: objdir}, "", nil, nil, "", false, "", srcs); e != nil {
 		return "32", nil
 	}
 	return "64", nil
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/internal/work/gc.go b/src/cmd/go/internal/work/gc.go
index be61a606d5..c6041aa22a 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/work/gc.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/work/gc.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func pkgPath(a *Action) string {
 	return ppath
 }
 
-func (gcToolchain) gc(b *Builder, a *Action, archive string, importcfg, embedcfg []byte, symabis string, asmhdr bool, gofiles []string) (ofile string, output []byte, err error) {
+func (gcToolchain) gc(b *Builder, a *Action, archive string, importcfg, embedcfg []byte, symabis string, asmhdr bool, pgoProfile string, gofiles []string) (ofile string, output []byte, err error) {
 	p := a.Package
 	sh := b.Shell(a)
 	objdir := a.Objdir
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ func (gcToolchain) gc(b *Builder, a *Action, archive string, importcfg, embedcfg
 	if p.Internal.Cover.Cfg != "" {
 		defaultGcFlags = append(defaultGcFlags, "-coveragecfg="+p.Internal.Cover.Cfg)
 	}
-	if p.Internal.PGOProfile != "" {
-		defaultGcFlags = append(defaultGcFlags, "-pgoprofile="+p.Internal.PGOProfile)
+	if pgoProfile != "" {
+		defaultGcFlags = append(defaultGcFlags, "-pgoprofile="+pgoProfile)
 	}
 	if symabis != "" {
 		defaultGcFlags = append(defaultGcFlags, "-symabis", symabis)
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/internal/work/gccgo.go b/src/cmd/go/internal/work/gccgo.go
index 2dce9f1ace..91d744e658 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/work/gccgo.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/work/gccgo.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func checkGccgoBin() {
 	base.Exit()
 }
 
-func (tools gccgoToolchain) gc(b *Builder, a *Action, archive string, importcfg, embedcfg []byte, symabis string, asmhdr bool, gofiles []string) (ofile string, output []byte, err error) {
+func (tools gccgoToolchain) gc(b *Builder, a *Action, archive string, importcfg, embedcfg []byte, symabis string, asmhdr bool, pgoProfile string, gofiles []string) (ofile string, output []byte, err error) {
 	p := a.Package
 	sh := b.Shell(a)
 	objdir := a.Objdir
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/build_pgo.txt b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/build_pgo.txt
index 3b0804badd..48bba683c1 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/build_pgo.txt
+++ b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/build_pgo.txt
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ go build triv.go
 # build with PGO, should trigger rebuild
 # starting with an empty profile (the compiler accepts it)
 go build -x -pgo=prof -o triv.exe triv.go
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*prof.*triv.go'
+stderr 'cp.*prof' # preprocess PGO profile
+stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*triv.go'
 
 # check that PGO appears in build info
 # N.B. we can't start the stdout check with -pgo because the script assumes that
@@ -33,9 +34,11 @@ cmp stdout list.out
 # overwrite the prof
 go run overwrite.go
 
-# build again, profile content changed, should trigger rebuild
+# build again, profile content changed, should trigger rebuild, including std
 go build -n -pgo=prof triv.go
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*prof.*p.go'
+stderr 'cp.*prof' # preprocess PGO profile
+stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*triv.go'
+stderr 'compile.*-p runtime.*-pgoprofile=.*'
 
 # check that the build ID is different
 go list -export -json=BuildID -pgo=prof triv.go
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/build_pgo_auto.txt b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/build_pgo_auto.txt
index 509be0d5c6..aebf83d224 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/build_pgo_auto.txt
+++ b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/build_pgo_auto.txt
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@
 
 # use default.pgo for a single main package
 go build -n -pgo=auto -o a1.exe ./a/a1
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*default\.pgo.*a1.go'
+stderr 'cp.*default\.pgo' # preprocess PGO profile
+stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a1.go'
 
 # check that pgo applied to dependencies
-stderr 'compile.*-p test/dep.*-pgoprofile=.*default\.pgo'
+stderr 'compile.*-p test/dep.*-pgoprofile=.*'
 
 # check that pgo appears in build info
 # N.B. we can't start the stdout check with -pgo because the script assumes that
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ stderr 'build\\t-pgo=.*default\.pgo'
 
 # use default.pgo for ... with a single main package
 go build -n -pgo=auto ./a/...
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*default\.pgo.*a1.go'
+stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a1.go'
 
 # check that pgo appears in build info
 stderr 'build\\t-pgo=.*default\.pgo'
@@ -34,14 +35,14 @@ stderr 'compile.*nopgo.go'
 
 # other build-related commands
 go install -a -n -pgo=auto ./a/a1
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*default\.pgo.*a1.go'
+stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a1.go'
 
 go run -a -n -pgo=auto ./a/a1
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*default\.pgo.*a1.go'
+stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a1.go'
 
 go test -a -n -pgo=auto ./a/a1
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*default\.pgo.*a1.go.*a1_test.go'
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*default\.pgo.*external_test.go'
+stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a1.go.*a1_test.go'
+stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*external_test.go'
 
 # go list commands should succeed as usual
 go list -pgo=auto ./a/a1
@@ -53,8 +54,8 @@ go list -deps -pgo=auto ./a/a1
 # -pgo=auto is the default. Commands without explicit -pgo=auto
 # should work as -pgo=auto.
 go build -a -n -o a1.exe ./a/a1
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*default\.pgo.*a1.go'
-stderr 'compile.*-p test/dep.*-pgoprofile=.*default\.pgo'
+stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a1.go'
+stderr 'compile.*-p test/dep.*-pgoprofile=.*'
 
 # check that pgo appears in build info
 stderr 'build\\t-pgo=.*default\.pgo'
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/build_pgo_auto_multi.txt b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/build_pgo_auto_multi.txt
index 991b72ce85..88cc49d421 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/build_pgo_auto_multi.txt
+++ b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/build_pgo_auto_multi.txt
@@ -2,24 +2,21 @@
 
 go install -a -n -pgo=auto ./a ./b ./nopgo
 
-# a/default.pgo applies to package a and (transitive)
-# dependencies.
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*a(/|\\\\)a\.go'
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*dep(/|\\\\)dep\.go'
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*dep2(/|\\\\)dep2\.go'
-stderr -count=1 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*dep3(/|\\\\)dep3\.go'
+# a/default.pgo and b/default.pgo are both preprocessed
+stderr 'cp.*a(/|\\)default\.pgo'
+stderr 'cp.*b(/|\\)default\.pgo'
 
-# b/default.pgo applies to package b and (transitive)
-# dependencies.
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*b(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*b(/|\\\\)b\.go'
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*b(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*dep(/|\\\\)dep\.go'
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*b(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*dep2(/|\\\\)dep2\.go'
-stderr -count=1 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*b(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*dep3(/|\\\\)dep3\.go'
+# a and b built once each with PGO.
+# Ideally we would check that the passed profile is the expected profile (here
+# and for dependencies). Unfortunately there is no nice way to map the expected
+# paths after preprocessing.
+stderr -count=1 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a(/|\\\\)a\.go'
+stderr -count=1 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*b(/|\\\\)b\.go'
 
 # nopgo should be built without PGO.
 ! stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*nopgo(/|\\\\)nopgo\.go'
 
-# Dependencies should also be built without PGO.
+# Dependencies should also be built with and without PGO.
 # Here we want to match a compile action without -pgoprofile,
 # by matching 3 occurrences of "compile dep.go", among which
 # 2 of them have -pgoprofile (therefore one without).
@@ -39,17 +36,14 @@ stderr 'path\\ttest/b\\n.*build\\t-pgo=.*b(/|\\\\)default\.pgo'
 
 # go test works the same way
 go test -a -n -pgo=auto ./a ./b ./nopgo
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*a(/|\\\\)a_test\.go'
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*dep(/|\\\\)dep\.go'
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*b(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*b(/|\\\\)b_test\.go'
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*b(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*dep(/|\\\\)dep\.go'
+stderr -count=1 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a(/|\\\\)a_test\.go'
+stderr -count=1 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*b(/|\\\\)b_test\.go'
+stderr -count=2 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*dep(/|\\\\)dep\.go'
 ! stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*nopgo(/|\\\\)nopgo_test\.go'
 
 # test-only dependencies also have profiles attached
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*testdep(/|\\\\)testdep\.go'
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*b(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*testdep(/|\\\\)testdep\.go'
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*a(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*testdep2(/|\\\\)testdep2\.go'
-stderr 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*b(/|\\\\)default\.pgo.*testdep2(/|\\\\)testdep2\.go'
+stderr -count=2 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*testdep(/|\\\\)testdep\.go'
+stderr -count=2 'compile.*-pgoprofile=.*testdep2(/|\\\\)testdep2\.go'
 
 # go list -deps prints packages built multiple times.
 go list -pgo=auto -deps ./a ./b ./nopgo