diff --git a/tools/run_tests/build_php.sh b/tools/run_tests/build_php.sh
index 6841656bdb8..0a8d0c74923 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/build_php.sh
+++ b/tools/run_tests/build_php.sh
@@ -2,14 +2,13 @@
 
 set -ex
 
+CONFIG=${CONFIG:-opt}
+
 # change to grpc repo root
 cd $(dirname $0)/../..
 
 root=`pwd`
-export GRPC_LIB_SUBDIR=libs/opt
-
-# make the libraries
-make -j static_c
+export GRPC_LIB_SUBDIR=libs/$CONFIG
 
 # build php
 cd src/php
@@ -18,4 +17,3 @@ cd ext/grpc
 phpize
 ./configure --enable-grpc=$root
 make
-
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py b/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py
index 141f1117ab9..bfe6d7949bc 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py
+++ b/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class PhpLanguage(object):
     return ['src/php/bin/run_tests.sh']
 
   def make_targets(self):
-    return []
+    return ['static_c']
 
   def build_steps(self):
     return [['tools/run_tests/build_php.sh']]