diff --git a/zebra-grpc/build.rs b/zebra-grpc/build.rs
index 61423f87..fe514321 100644
--- a/zebra-grpc/build.rs
+++ b/zebra-grpc/build.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     tonic_build::configure()
         .btree_map(["."])
+        .protoc_arg("--experimental_allow_proto3_optional")
         .type_attribute(".", "#[derive(serde::Deserialize, serde::Serialize)]")
         .compile(&["proto/scanner.proto"], &[""])?;
     Ok(())