diff --git a/tools/buildgen/generate_projects.sh b/tools/buildgen/generate_projects.sh
index fdbe8dea672..9b5c0f50bb2 100755
--- a/tools/buildgen/generate_projects.sh
+++ b/tools/buildgen/generate_projects.sh
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ set -e
 export TEST=${TEST:-false}
 
 # Upgrade Python's YAML library
-python3 -m pip install --upgrade --ignore-installed PyYAML
+python3 -m pip install --upgrade --ignore-installed PyYAML --user
 
 echo "Generating build_autogenerated.yaml from bazel BUILD file"
 rm -f build_autogenerated.yaml