diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index a9a86a13d..d61ec3d47 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ jobs:
         cargo_flags: [""]
         include:
         - os: ubuntu-latest
-          rust_version: "1.64"
+          rust_version: "1.71"
           cargo_flags: ""
         - os: ubuntu-latest
           rust_version: stable
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           toolchain: nightly
           components: rustfmt
-      - run: cargo fmt --all -- --check
+      - run: cargo +nightly fmt --all -- --check
 
   cargo-deny:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -95,4 +95,4 @@ jobs:
         with:
           toolchain: stable
           components: clippy
-      - run: cargo clippy --all-features --workspace --all-targets -- -D warnings
+      - run: cargo +stable clippy --all-features --workspace --all-targets -- -D warnings
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index cc764614e..f16c56d4c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Breaking changes
 
+* The minimum supported Rust version (MSRV) is now 1.71.0.
+
 ### New features
 
 ### Fixed bugs
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index e68167962..1d9be1c82 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ name = "jj-cli"
 version = "0.8.0"
 authors = ["Martin von Zweigbergk <martinvonz@google.com>"]
 edition = "2021"
-rust-version = "1.64"  # Remember to update CI, contributing.md, and flake.nix
+rust-version = "1.71"  # Remember to update CI, and contributing.md
 license = "Apache-2.0"
 description = "Jujutsu (an experimental VCS)"
 homepage = "https://github.com/martinvonz/jj"
diff --git a/docs/contributing.md b/docs/contributing.md
index edac3f3d6..249a811b6 100644
--- a/docs/contributing.md
+++ b/docs/contributing.md
@@ -77,10 +77,12 @@ recommended steps.
 
 ### Summary
 
+If you already have `rustup` installed, then moving into the source code
+directory will install the MSRV for you.
+
 One-time setup:
 
-    rustup toolchain add nightly  # If this is not your default
-    rustup toolchain add 1.64     # See note about MSRV & `rust-version` below
+    rustup toolchain add nightly  # wanted for 'rustfmt'
     cargo install cargo-insta
     cargo install cargo-watch
     cargo install cargo-nextest
@@ -89,7 +91,7 @@ During development (adapt according to your preference):
 
     cargo watch --ignore '.jj/**' -s \
       'cargo clippy --workspace --all-targets \
-       && cargo +1.64 check --workspace --all-targets'
+       && cargo check --workspace --all-targets'
     cargo +nightly fmt # Occasionally
     cargo nextest run --workspace # Occasionally
     cargo insta test --workspace # Occasionally
@@ -116,9 +118,8 @@ These are listed roughly in order of decreasing importance.
    toolchain and use `cargo +nightly fmt`.
 
 3. Your code will be rejected if it cannot be compiled with the minimal
-   supported version of Rust ("MSRV"). This version is listed as
-   `rust-version` in [`Cargo.toml`](../Cargo.toml); it is 1.64 as of this
-   writing.
+   supported version of Rust ("MSRV"). Currently, `jj` follows a rather
+   casual MSRV policy: "The current `rustc` stable version, minus one."
 
 4. Your code needs to pass `cargo clippy`. You can also
    use `cargo +nightly clippy` if you wish to see more warnings.
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 1b338a47d..7e0da5bdf 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -35,6 +35,13 @@
             pkgs.lib.all (re: builtins.match re relPath == null) regexes;
         };
 
+      rust-version = pkgs.rust-bin.stable."1.71.0".default;
+
+      ourRustPlatform = pkgs.makeRustPlatform {
+        rustc = rust-version;
+        cargo = rust-version;
+      };
+
       # NOTE (aseipp): on Linux, go ahead and use mold by default to improve
       # link times a bit; mostly useful for debug build speed, but will help
       # over time if we ever get more dependencies, too
@@ -42,7 +49,7 @@
     in
     {
       packages = {
-        jujutsu = pkgs.rustPlatform.buildRustPackage rec {
+        jujutsu = ourRustPlatform.buildRustPackage rec {
           pname = "jujutsu";
           version = "unstable-${self.shortRev or "dirty"}";
           buildNoDefaultFeatures = true;
@@ -64,8 +71,9 @@
             makeWrapper
             pkg-config
           ];
-          buildInputs = with pkgs; [ openssl zstd libgit2 libssh2 ]
-            ++ lib.optionals stdenv.isDarwin [
+          buildInputs = with pkgs; [
+            openssl zstd libgit2 libssh2
+          ] ++ lib.optionals stdenv.isDarwin [
             darwin.apple_sdk.frameworks.Security
             darwin.apple_sdk.frameworks.SystemConfiguration
             libiconv
@@ -102,7 +110,7 @@
         buildInputs = with pkgs; [
           # Using the minimal profile with explicit "clippy" extension to avoid
           # two versions of rustfmt
-          (rust-bin.stable."1.64.0".minimal.override {
+          (rust-version.override {
             extensions = [
               "rust-src" # for rust-analyzer
               "clippy"
diff --git a/lib/Cargo.toml b/lib/Cargo.toml
index 91d5c5543..6566e0a6b 100644
--- a/lib/Cargo.toml
+++ b/lib/Cargo.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ name = "jj-lib"
 version = "0.8.0"
 authors = ["Martin von Zweigbergk <martinvonz@google.com>"]
 edition = "2021"
-rust-version = "1.64"
+rust-version = "1.71"
 license = "Apache-2.0"
 description = "Library for Jujutsu (an experimental VCS)"
 homepage = "https://github.com/martinvonz/jj"