diff --git a/.bazelrc b/.bazelrc
index 87b611fe954..e2ccb69be90 100644
--- a/.bazelrc
+++ b/.bazelrc
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ common --override_module=semmle_code=%workspace%/misc/bazel/semmle_code_stub
 
 build --repo_env=CC=clang --repo_env=CXX=clang++
 
+# we use transitions that break builds of `...`, so for `test` to work with that we need the following
+test --build_tests_only
+
 # this requires developer mode, but is required to have pack installer functioning
 startup --windows_enable_symlinks
 common --enable_runfiles
diff --git a/swift/actions/build-and-test/action.yml b/swift/actions/build-and-test/action.yml
index 25034ab7731..2522f545c05 100644
--- a/swift/actions/build-and-test/action.yml
+++ b/swift/actions/build-and-test/action.yml
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ runs:
       if: ${{ github.event_name == 'pull_request' }}
       shell: bash
       run: |
-        bazel test --build_tests_only //swift/...
+        bazel test //swift/...
     - name: Evict bazel cache
       if: ${{ github.event_name != 'pull_request' }}
       shell: bash