diff --git a/kokoro/macos/prepare_build_macos_rc b/kokoro/macos/prepare_build_macos_rc
index 7a150c79fb..d9677e966b 100755
--- a/kokoro/macos/prepare_build_macos_rc
+++ b/kokoro/macos/prepare_build_macos_rc
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ export CXX=g++
 
 ##
 # Install Python 2 by default
-
 eval "$(pyenv init -)"
 pyenv install -v -s 2.7.18 && pyenv global 2.7.18
 
@@ -34,6 +33,9 @@ pyenv install -v -s 2.7.18 && pyenv global 2.7.18
 # Install Tox
 
 if [[ "${KOKORO_INSTALL_TOX:-}" == "yes" ]] ; then
+  # pyenv needs to be directed towards its dependencies.
+  CFLAGS="-I$(brew --prefix zlib)/include" \
+  LDFLAGS="-L$(brew --prefix zlib)/lib" \
   pyenv install -v -s 3.7.13
   pyenv global 3.7.13
   sudo python -m pip install --upgrade pip 'tox==3.27.1' tox-pyenv