diff --git a/packages/kbn-ts-type-check-cli/run_type_check_cli.ts b/packages/kbn-ts-type-check-cli/run_type_check_cli.ts
index 90a0c6c782fb2..15d8759dd203f 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-ts-type-check-cli/run_type_check_cli.ts
+++ b/packages/kbn-ts-type-check-cli/run_type_check_cli.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ async function createTypeCheckConfigs(log: SomeDevLog, projects: TsProject[]) {
         ...config.compilerOptions,
         composite: true,
         rootDir: '.',
+        noEmit: false,
+        emitDeclarationOnly: true,
         paths: project.repoRel === 'tsconfig.base.json' ? config.compilerOptions?.paths : undefined,
       },
       kbn_references: undefined,