diff --git a/.bazelversion b/.bazelversion
index b26a34e470..6d2890793d 100644
--- a/.bazelversion
+++ b/.bazelversion
@@ -1 +1 @@
-7.2.1
+8.5.0
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7f9cb3376c..ce4e386e3f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ Increment the:
 * [CONFIGURATION] File configuration - prometheus without_target_info
   [#3818](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/pull/3818)
 
+* [BAZEL] Fix CI after bazel 9.0.0 release
+  [#3823](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/pull/3823)
+
 Breaking changes:
 
 * [CONFIGURATION] File configuration - remove zipkin
diff --git a/ci/do_ci.sh b/ci/do_ci.sh
index 067913128e..eeb8ef2247 100755
--- a/ci/do_ci.sh
+++ b/ci/do_ci.sh
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ echo "make command: ${MAKE_COMMAND}"
 
 export BAZEL_CXXOPTS="-std=c++17"
 
+# Work around for https://github.com/actions/runner-images/issues/13564
+export USE_BAZEL_VERSION="8.5.0"
 
 BAZEL_OPTIONS_DEFAULT="--copt=-DENABLE_METRICS_EXEMPLAR_PREVIEW --//exporters/otlp:with_otlp_grpc_credential_preview=true"
 BAZEL_OPTIONS="$BAZEL_OPTIONS_DEFAULT"