diff --git a/ui/build/config.go b/ui/build/config.go
index 8ec9680..b0fa5ea 100644
--- a/ui/build/config.go
+++ b/ui/build/config.go
@@ -1712,6 +1712,16 @@
 	return c.Environment().IsEnvTrue("USE_PERSISTENT_BAZEL")
 }
 
+// GetBazeliskBazelVersion returns the Bazel version to use for this build,
+// or the empty string if the current canonical prod Bazel should be used.
+// This environment variable should only be set to debug the build system.
+// The Bazel version, if set, will be passed to Bazelisk, and Bazelisk will
+// handle downloading and invoking the correct Bazel binary.
+func (c *configImpl) GetBazeliskBazelVersion() string {
+	value, _ := c.Environment().Get("USE_BAZEL_VERSION")
+	return value
+}
+
 func (c *configImpl) BazelModulesForceEnabledByFlag() string {
 	return c.bazelForceEnabledModules
 }
diff --git a/ui/build/soong.go b/ui/build/soong.go
index 18bf3b9..5af5881 100644
--- a/ui/build/soong.go
+++ b/ui/build/soong.go
@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@
 		defer ctx.EndTrace()
 
 		if config.IsPersistentBazelEnabled() {
-			bazelProxy := bazel.NewProxyServer(ctx.Logger, config.OutDir(), filepath.Join(config.SoongOutDir(), "workspace"))
+			bazelProxy := bazel.NewProxyServer(ctx.Logger, config.OutDir(), filepath.Join(config.SoongOutDir(), "workspace"), config.GetBazeliskBazelVersion())
 			bazelProxy.Start()
 			defer bazelProxy.Close()
 		}