diff --git a/src/csharp/Grpc.Tools/build/_protobuf/Google.Protobuf.Tools.targets b/src/csharp/Grpc.Tools/build/_protobuf/Google.Protobuf.Tools.targets
index 1a862337c58..b1030ba1f8b 100644
--- a/src/csharp/Grpc.Tools/build/_protobuf/Google.Protobuf.Tools.targets
+++ b/src/csharp/Grpc.Tools/build/_protobuf/Google.Protobuf.Tools.targets
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
       <ProtoRoot Condition="'%(Protobuf.ProtoRoot)' == '' " />
       <CompileOutputs Condition="'%(Protobuf.CompileOutputs)' == ''">True</CompileOutputs>
       <OutputDir Condition="'%(Protobuf.OutputDir)' == '' ">$(Protobuf_OutputPath)</OutputDir>
+      <Generator Condition="'%(Protobuf.Generator)' == '' and '$(DisableProtobufDesignTimeBuild)' != 'true' " >MSBuild:Compile</Generator>
     </Protobuf>
   </ItemDefinitionGroup>