diff --git a/cmake/benchmark.cmake b/cmake/benchmark.cmake
index f6b7bebd47c..ff95ed86a25 100644
--- a/cmake/benchmark.cmake
+++ b/cmake/benchmark.cmake
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-set(BENCHMARK_ENABLE_GTEST_TESTS OFF)
+set(BENCHMARK_ENABLE_GTEST_TESTS OFF CACHE BOOL "Turn off gTest in gBenchmark")
 
 if("${gRPC_BENCHMARK_PROVIDER}" STREQUAL "module")
   if(NOT BENCHMARK_ROOT_DIR)