diff --git a/src/cargo/util/toml/mod.rs b/src/cargo/util/toml/mod.rs
index dc0e61b7a..9d36cd094 100644
--- a/src/cargo/util/toml/mod.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/util/toml/mod.rs
@@ -520,16 +520,16 @@ impl TomlProfile {
             features.require(Feature::named_profiles())?;
         }
 
-        if self.dir_name.is_some() {
-            features.require(Feature::named_profiles())?;
-        }
-
-        // `dir-name` validation
-        match &self.dir_name {
-            None => {}
-            Some(dir_name) => {
-                Self::validate_name(dir_name, "dir-name")?;
-            }
+        if let Some(dir_name) = self.dir_name {
+            // This is disabled for now, as we would like to stabilize named
+            // profiles without this, and then decide in the future if it is
+            // needed. This helps simplify the UI a little.
+            bail!(
+                "dir-name=\"{}\" in profile `{}` is not currently allowed, \
+                 directory names are tied to the profile name for custom profiles",
+                dir_name,
+                name
+            );
         }
 
         // `inherits` validation
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/profile_custom.rs b/tests/testsuite/profile_custom.rs
index d8da18eee..7e5761086 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/profile_custom.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/profile_custom.rs
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ Caused by:
 }
 
 #[cargo_test]
+#[ignore] // dir-name is currently disabled
 fn invalid_dir_name() {
     let p = project()
         .file(
@@ -134,6 +135,42 @@ Caused by:
         .run();
 }
 
+#[cargo_test]
+fn dir_name_disabled() {
+    let p = project()
+        .file(
+            "Cargo.toml",
+            r#"
+                cargo-features = ["named-profiles"]
+
+                [package]
+                name = "foo"
+                version = "0.1.0"
+
+                [profile.release-lto]
+                inherits = "release"
+                dir-name = "lto"
+                lto = true
+            "#,
+        )
+        .file("src/lib.rs", "")
+        .build();
+
+    p.cargo("build")
+        .masquerade_as_nightly_cargo()
+        .with_status(101)
+        .with_stderr(
+            "\
+error: failed to parse manifest at `[ROOT]/foo/Cargo.toml`
+
+Caused by:
+  dir-name=\"lto\" in profile `release-lto` is not currently allowed, \
+  directory names are tied to the profile name for custom profiles
+",
+        )
+        .run();
+}
+
 #[cargo_test]
 fn invalid_inherits() {
     let p = project()