diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 85e20f0fd3..ab10335e0f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1269,7 +1269,9 @@ test_integrations_frankenphp: global_test_run_dependencies
 test_integrations_roadrunner: global_test_run_dependencies tests/Frameworks/Roadrunner/Version_2/composer.lock-php$(PHP_MAJOR_MINOR)
 	$(call run_tests_debug,tests/Integrations/Roadrunner/V2)
 test_integrations_googlespanner: global_test_run_dependencies tests/Integrations/GoogleSpanner/composer.lock-php$(PHP_MAJOR_MINOR)
+	$(eval TEST_EXTRA_INI=-d extension=grpc.so)
 	$(call run_tests_debug,tests/Integrations/GoogleSpanner)
+	$(eval TEST_EXTRA_INI=)
 test_integrations_sqlsrv: global_test_run_dependencies
 	$(eval TEST_EXTRA_INI=-d extension=sqlsrv.so)
 	$(call run_tests_debug,tests/Integrations/SQLSRV)
diff --git a/dockerfiles/ci/buster/build-extensions.sh b/dockerfiles/ci/buster/build-extensions.sh
index 710df2930e..1891f93358 100755
--- a/dockerfiles/ci/buster/build-extensions.sh
+++ b/dockerfiles/ci/buster/build-extensions.sh
@@ -159,6 +159,12 @@ else
     popd
   fi
 
+  # ext-grpc is needed for google spanner
+  if [[ $PHP_VERSION_ID -ge 80 ]]; then
+    pecl install grpc;
+    # avoid installing it by default, it seems to stall some testsuites.
+  fi
+
   # We don't install any redis.so to inis, but allow selection at runtime.
   if [[ $PHP_VERSION_ID -lt 80 ]]; then
     pecl install redis-3.1.6