diff --git a/tools/run_tests/sanity/check_bazel_workspace.py b/tools/run_tests/sanity/check_bazel_workspace.py
index 81fee5aa536..612f908bbfe 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/sanity/check_bazel_workspace.py
+++ b/tools/run_tests/sanity/check_bazel_workspace.py
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ for name in _GRPC_DEP_NAMES:
         'load': lambda a, b: None,
         'git_repository': lambda **args: state.git_repository(**args),
     }
-    exec bazel_file in rules
+    exec(bazel_file in rules)
     assert name not in names_and_urls_with_overridden_name.keys()
 
 sys.exit(0)