diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 73534668bdb..521545a742b 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ set(gRPC_INSTALL_LIBDIR "lib" CACHE STRING "Installation directory for libraries
 set(gRPC_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR "include" CACHE STRING "Installation directory for headers")
 set(gRPC_INSTALL_CMAKEDIR "lib/cmake/${PACKAGE_NAME}" CACHE STRING "Installation directory for cmake config files")
 set(gRPC_INSTALL_SHAREDIR "share/grpc" CACHE STRING "Installation directory for root certificates")
-set(gRPC_BUILD_MSVC_MP_COUNT 0 CACHE INTERNAL "The maximum number of processes for MSVC /MP option")
+set(gRPC_BUILD_MSVC_MP_COUNT 0 CACHE STRING "The maximum number of processes for MSVC /MP option")
 
 # Options
 option(gRPC_BUILD_TESTS "Build tests" OFF)
diff --git a/examples/cpp/helloworld/cmake_externalproject/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/cpp/helloworld/cmake_externalproject/CMakeLists.txt
index f2371789c52..01fd2d6fdb0 100644
--- a/examples/cpp/helloworld/cmake_externalproject/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/cpp/helloworld/cmake_externalproject/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ ExternalProject_Add(grpc
   CMAKE_CACHE_ARGS
         -DgRPC_INSTALL:BOOL=ON
         -DgRPC_BUILD_TESTS:BOOL=OFF
+        -DgRPC_BUILD_MSVC_MP_COUNT:STRING=-1
         -DgRPC_PROTOBUF_PROVIDER:STRING=package
         -DgRPC_PROTOBUF_PACKAGE_TYPE:STRING=CONFIG
         -DProtobuf_DIR:PATH=${_FINDPACKAGE_PROTOBUF_CONFIG_DIR}
diff --git a/templates/CMakeLists.txt.template b/templates/CMakeLists.txt.template
index 061ba3db9e6..d1ca7190000 100644
--- a/templates/CMakeLists.txt.template
+++ b/templates/CMakeLists.txt.template
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@
   set(gRPC_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR "include" CACHE STRING "Installation directory for headers")
   set(gRPC_INSTALL_CMAKEDIR "lib/cmake/<%text>${PACKAGE_NAME}</%text>" CACHE STRING "Installation directory for cmake config files")
   set(gRPC_INSTALL_SHAREDIR "share/grpc" CACHE STRING "Installation directory for root certificates")
-  set(gRPC_BUILD_MSVC_MP_COUNT 0 CACHE INTERNAL "The maximum number of processes for MSVC /MP option")
+  set(gRPC_BUILD_MSVC_MP_COUNT 0 CACHE STRING "The maximum number of processes for MSVC /MP option")
 
   # Options
   option(gRPC_BUILD_TESTS "Build tests" OFF)
diff --git a/test/distrib/cpp/run_distrib_test_cmake.bat b/test/distrib/cpp/run_distrib_test_cmake.bat
index 9ebc0324224..a7a7158c644 100644
--- a/test/distrib/cpp/run_distrib_test_cmake.bat
+++ b/test/distrib/cpp/run_distrib_test_cmake.bat
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ cmake ^
   -DZLIB_ROOT=%INSTALL_DIR% ^
   -DgRPC_INSTALL=ON ^
   -DgRPC_BUILD_TESTS=OFF ^
+  -DgRPC_BUILD_MSVC_MP_COUNT=-1 ^
   -DgRPC_ABSL_PROVIDER=package ^
   -DgRPC_CARES_PROVIDER=package ^
   -DgRPC_PROTOBUF_PROVIDER=package ^