diff --git a/templates/vsprojects/Grpc.mak.template b/templates/vsprojects/Grpc.mak.template
index b75537dba7b..9d85376648b 100644
--- a/templates/vsprojects/Grpc.mak.template
+++ b/templates/vsprojects/Grpc.mak.template
@@ -72,6 +72,12 @@ LIBS=$(OPENSSL_LIBS) $(ZLIB_LIBS) $(GENERAL_LIBS) $(WINSOCK_LIBS)
 
 all: buildtests
 
+tools:
+
+tools_c:
+
+tools_cxx:
+
 $(OUT_DIR):
 	mkdir $(OUT_DIR)
 
diff --git a/vsprojects/Grpc.mak b/vsprojects/Grpc.mak
index d9b22550a43..86afdc48e9c 100644
--- a/vsprojects/Grpc.mak
+++ b/vsprojects/Grpc.mak
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@ LIBS=$(OPENSSL_LIBS) $(ZLIB_LIBS) $(GENERAL_LIBS) $(WINSOCK_LIBS)
 
 all: buildtests
 
+tools:
+
+tools_c:
+
+tools_cxx:
+
 $(OUT_DIR):
 	mkdir $(OUT_DIR)