diff --git a/.bazelrc b/.bazelrc
index f301b3d..83cfd48 100644
--- a/.bazelrc
+++ b/.bazelrc
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+# Until we have migrated all deps out of WORKSPACE file, we need to continue to use it.
+# Starting with bazel 8, this flag flips to default false.
+common --enable_workspace
+
 # Runfiles are needed by several tests. Typically these are defaulted on for
 # non-Windows platforms.
 build --enable_runfiles