address PR comments

Author: ChristopherDedominici

packages/hardhat-core/src/builtin-tasks/compile.ts

@@ -674,6 +674,7 @@ subtask(TASK_COMPILE_SOLIDITY_RUN_SOLCJS)
 subtask(TASK_COMPILE_SOLIDITY_RUN_SOLC)
   .addParam("input", undefined, undefined, types.any)
   .addParam("solcPath", undefined, undefined, types.string)
+  .addOptionalParam("solcVersion", undefined, undefined, types.string)
   .setAction(
     async ({
       input,
@@ -684,6 +685,14 @@ subtask(TASK_COMPILE_SOLIDITY_RUN_SOLC)
       solcPath: string;
       solcVersion?: string;
     }) => {
+      if (solcVersion !== undefined && semver.parse(solcVersion) === null) {
+        throw new HardhatError(ERRORS.ARGUMENTS.INVALID_VALUE_FOR_TYPE, {
+          value: solcVersion,
+          name: "solcVersion",
+          type: "string",
+        });
+      }
+
       const compiler = new NativeCompiler(solcPath, solcVersion);
 
       return compiler.compile(input);

packages/hardhat-core/src/internal/solidity/compiler/index.ts

@@ -79,14 +79,6 @@ export class NativeCompiler implements ICompiler {
     // Logic to make sure that solc default import callback is not being used.
     // If solcVersion is not defined or <= 0.6.8, do not add extra args.
     if (this._solcVersion !== undefined) {
-      if (semver.parse(this._solcVersion) === null) {
-        throw new HardhatError(ERRORS.ARGUMENTS.INVALID_VALUE_FOR_TYPE, {
-          value: this._solcVersion,
-          name: "_solcVersion",
-          type: "string",
-        });
-      }
-
       if (semver.gte(this._solcVersion, "0.8.22")) {
         // version >= 0.8.22
         args.push("--no-import-callback");