diff --git a/compileopts/target.go b/compileopts/target.go
index 16d21f46c..29b3733bd 100644
--- a/compileopts/target.go
+++ b/compileopts/target.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 // https://github.com/shepmaster/rust-arduino-blink-led-no-core-with-cargo/blob/master/blink/arduino.json
 type TargetSpec struct {
 	Inherits         []string `json:"inherits,omitempty"`
+	InheritableOnly  bool     `json:"inheritable-only"` // this target is only meant to be inherited from, not used directly
 	Triple           string   `json:"llvm-target,omitempty"`
 	CPU              string   `json:"cpu,omitempty"`
 	ABI              string   `json:"target-abi,omitempty"` // roughly equivalent to -mabi= flag
@@ -148,6 +149,11 @@ func (spec *TargetSpec) loadFromGivenStr(str string) error {
 
 // resolveInherits loads inherited targets, recursively.
 func (spec *TargetSpec) resolveInherits() error {
+	// Save InheritableOnly before resolving, since it must not propagate
+	// from parent to child (a board target should not become inheritable-only
+	// just because its parent processor target is).
+	inheritableOnly := spec.InheritableOnly
+
 	// First create a new spec with all the inherited properties.
 	newSpec := &TargetSpec{}
 	for _, name := range spec.Inherits {
@@ -173,6 +179,9 @@ func (spec *TargetSpec) resolveInherits() error {
 	}
 	*spec = *newSpec
 
+	// Restore InheritableOnly from the original spec, not from parents.
+	spec.InheritableOnly = inheritableOnly
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -239,10 +248,17 @@ func GetTargetSpecs() (map[string]*TargetSpec, error) {
 			continue
 		}
 		path := filepath.Join(dir, entry.Name())
+
 		spec, err := LoadTarget(&Options{Target: path})
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not list target: %w", err)
 		}
+
+		if spec.InheritableOnly {
+			// Skip targets that are only meant to be inherited from, not used directly.
+			continue
+		}
+
 		if spec.FlashMethod == "" && spec.FlashCommand == "" && spec.Emulator == "" {
 			// This doesn't look like a regular target file, but rather like
 			// a parent target (such as targets/cortex-m.json).
diff --git a/compileopts/target_test.go b/compileopts/target_test.go
index 579c54f67..d8a17a5e3 100644
--- a/compileopts/target_test.go
+++ b/compileopts/target_test.go
@@ -23,6 +23,37 @@ func TestLoadTarget(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestGetTargetSpecs_InheritableOnlyTargetsExcluded(t *testing.T) {
+	specs, err := GetTargetSpecs()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("GetTargetSpecs failed:", err)
+	}
+
+	// Inheritable-only processor-level targets should not appear in the listing.
+	inheritableOnlyTargets := []string{"esp32", "esp32c3", "esp32s3", "esp8266", "rp2040", "rp2350", "rp2350b"}
+	for _, name := range inheritableOnlyTargets {
+		if _, ok := specs[name]; ok {
+			t.Errorf("inheritable-only target %q should not appear in GetTargetSpecs", name)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Board targets that inherit from inheritable-only targets should still appear.
+	boardTargets := []string{"esp32-coreboard-v2", "pico"}
+	for _, name := range boardTargets {
+		if _, ok := specs[name]; !ok {
+			t.Errorf("board target %q should appear in GetTargetSpecs", name)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadTarget_InheritableOnlyTargetStillLoadable(t *testing.T) {
+	// Inheritable-only targets should still be loadable directly (for building).
+	_, err := LoadTarget(&Options{Target: "esp32"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("LoadTarget should still load inheritable-only target esp32: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestOverrideProperties(t *testing.T) {
 	baseAutoStackSize := true
 	base := &TargetSpec{
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 5316798a1..a798b9fb4 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ import (
 	"go.bug.st/serial/enumerator"
 )
 
+var errInheritableOnly = errors.New("target is inheritable-only, which means it cannot be used directly for building or flashing")
+
 // commandError is an error type to wrap os/exec.Command errors. This provides
 // some more information regarding what went wrong while running a command.
 type commandError struct {
@@ -140,6 +142,10 @@ func printCommand(cmd string, args ...string) {
 
 // Build compiles and links the given package and writes it to outpath.
 func Build(pkgName, outpath string, config *compileopts.Config) error {
+	if config.Target != nil && config.Target.InheritableOnly {
+		return errInheritableOnly
+	}
+
 	// Create a temporary directory for intermediary files.
 	tmpdir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "tinygo")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -357,6 +363,10 @@ func Flash(pkgName, port, outpath string, options *compileopts.Options) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if config.Target != nil && config.Target.InheritableOnly {
+		return errInheritableOnly
+	}
+
 	// determine the type of file to compile
 	var fileExt string
 
@@ -786,6 +796,10 @@ func Run(pkgName string, options *compileopts.Options, cmdArgs []string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if config.Target != nil && config.Target.InheritableOnly {
+		return errInheritableOnly
+	}
+
 	_, err = buildAndRun(pkgName, config, os.Stdout, cmdArgs, nil, 0, func(cmd *exec.Cmd, result builder.BuildResult) error {
 		return cmd.Run()
 	})
diff --git a/targets/esp32.json b/targets/esp32.json
index 7aad3da4e..2c7abd699 100644
--- a/targets/esp32.json
+++ b/targets/esp32.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"inherits": ["xtensa"],
+	"inheritable-only": true,
 	"cpu": "esp32",
 	"features": "+atomctl,+bool,+clamps,+coprocessor,+debug,+density,+dfpaccel,+div32,+exception,+fp,+highpriinterrupts,+interrupt,+loop,+mac16,+memctl,+minmax,+miscsr,+mul32,+mul32high,+nsa,+prid,+regprotect,+rvector,+s32c1i,+sext,+threadptr,+timerint,+windowed",
 	"build-tags": ["esp32", "esp"],
diff --git a/targets/esp32c3.json b/targets/esp32c3.json
index ea46d0788..583506c19 100644
--- a/targets/esp32c3.json
+++ b/targets/esp32c3.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"inherits": ["riscv32"],
+	"inheritable-only": true,
 	"features": "+32bit,+c,+m,+zmmul,-a,-b,-d,-e,-experimental-sdext,-experimental-sdtrig,-experimental-smctr,-experimental-ssctr,-experimental-svukte,-experimental-xqcia,-experimental-xqciac,-experimental-xqcicli,-experimental-xqcicm,-experimental-xqcics,-experimental-xqcicsr,-experimental-xqciint,-experimental-xqcilo,-experimental-xqcilsm,-experimental-xqcisls,-experimental-zalasr,-experimental-zicfilp,-experimental-zicfiss,-experimental-zvbc32e,-experimental-zvkgs,-f,-h,-relax,-sha,-shcounterenw,-shgatpa,-shtvala,-shvsatpa,-shvstvala,-shvstvecd,-smaia,-smcdeleg,-smcsrind,-smdbltrp,-smepmp,-smmpm,-smnpm,-smrnmi,-smstateen,-ssaia,-ssccfg,-ssccptr,-sscofpmf,-sscounterenw,-sscsrind,-ssdbltrp,-ssnpm,-sspm,-ssqosid,-ssstateen,-ssstrict,-sstc,-sstvala,-sstvecd,-ssu64xl,-supm,-svade,-svadu,-svbare,-svinval,-svnapot,-svpbmt,-svvptc,-v,-xcvalu,-xcvbi,-xcvbitmanip,-xcvelw,-xcvmac,-xcvmem,-xcvsimd,-xesppie,-xmipscmove,-xmipslsp,-xsfcease,-xsfvcp,-xsfvfnrclipxfqf,-xsfvfwmaccqqq,-xsfvqmaccdod,-xsfvqmaccqoq,-xsifivecdiscarddlone,-xsifivecflushdlone,-xtheadba,-xtheadbb,-xtheadbs,-xtheadcmo,-xtheadcondmov,-xtheadfmemidx,-xtheadmac,-xtheadmemidx,-xtheadmempair,-xtheadsync,-xtheadvdot,-xventanacondops,-xwchc,-za128rs,-za64rs,-zaamo,-zabha,-zacas,-zalrsc,-zama16b,-zawrs,-zba,-zbb,-zbc,-zbkb,-zbkc,-zbkx,-zbs,-zca,-zcb,-zcd,-zce,-zcf,-zcmop,-zcmp,-zcmt,-zdinx,-zfa,-zfbfmin,-zfh,-zfhmin,-zfinx,-zhinx,-zhinxmin,-zic64b,-zicbom,-zicbop,-zicboz,-ziccamoa,-ziccif,-zicclsm,-ziccrse,-zicntr,-zicond,-zicsr,-zifencei,-zihintntl,-zihintpause,-zihpm,-zimop,-zk,-zkn,-zknd,-zkne,-zknh,-zkr,-zks,-zksed,-zksh,-zkt,-ztso,-zvbb,-zvbc,-zve32f,-zve32x,-zve64d,-zve64f,-zve64x,-zvfbfmin,-zvfbfwma,-zvfh,-zvfhmin,-zvkb,-zvkg,-zvkn,-zvknc,-zvkned,-zvkng,-zvknha,-zvknhb,-zvks,-zvksc,-zvksed,-zvksg,-zvksh,-zvkt,-zvl1024b,-zvl128b,-zvl16384b,-zvl2048b,-zvl256b,-zvl32768b,-zvl32b,-zvl4096b,-zvl512b,-zvl64b,-zvl65536b,-zvl8192b",
 	"build-tags": ["esp32c3", "esp"],
 	"serial": "usb",
diff --git a/targets/esp32s3.json b/targets/esp32s3.json
index 281b477df..9eac6dfbd 100644
--- a/targets/esp32s3.json
+++ b/targets/esp32s3.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"inherits": ["xtensa"],
+	"inheritable-only": true,
 	"cpu": "esp32s3",
 	"features": "+atomctl,+bool,+clamps,+coprocessor,+debug,+density,+div32,+esp32s3,+exception,+fp,+highpriinterrupts,+interrupt,+loop,+mac16,+memctl,+minmax,+miscsr,+mul32,+mul32high,+nsa,+prid,+regprotect,+rvector,+s32c1i,+sext,+threadptr,+timerint,+windowed",
 	"build-tags": ["esp32s3", "esp"],
diff --git a/targets/esp8266.json b/targets/esp8266.json
index b6e4a3500..83d5bcd1b 100644
--- a/targets/esp8266.json
+++ b/targets/esp8266.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"inherits": ["xtensa"],
+	"inheritable-only": true,
 	"cpu": "esp8266",
 	"features": "+debug,+density,+exception,+extendedl32r,+highpriinterrupts,+interrupt,+mul32,+nsa,+prid,+regprotect,+rvector,+timerint",
 	"build-tags": ["esp8266", "esp"],
diff --git a/targets/rp2040.json b/targets/rp2040.json
index 6470d57f5..e2969fea5 100644
--- a/targets/rp2040.json
+++ b/targets/rp2040.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
     "inherits": ["cortex-m0plus"],
+    "inheritable-only": true,
     "build-tags": ["rp2040", "rp"],
     "scheduler": "tasks",
     "flash-1200-bps-reset": "true",
diff --git a/targets/rp2350.json b/targets/rp2350.json
index e3a6549fd..f4567652d 100644
--- a/targets/rp2350.json
+++ b/targets/rp2350.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
     "inherits": ["cortex-m33"],
+    "inheritable-only": true,
     "build-tags": ["rp2350", "rp"],
     "scheduler": "tasks",
     "flash-1200-bps-reset": "true",
diff --git a/targets/rp2350b.json b/targets/rp2350b.json
index 5db4d4849..6e628c6b7 100644
--- a/targets/rp2350b.json
+++ b/targets/rp2350b.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
     "inherits": ["rp2350"],
+    "inheritable-only": true,
     "build-tags": ["rp2350b"],
     "serial-port": ["2e8a:000f"]
 }
\ No newline at end of file