diff --git a/src/SourceBuild/content/Directory.Build.props b/src/SourceBuild/content/Directory.Build.props
index eb7db7f26..bf4f728c5 100644
--- a/src/SourceBuild/content/Directory.Build.props
+++ b/src/SourceBuild/content/Directory.Build.props
@@ -120,6 +120,8 @@
     <SuppressNETCoreSdkPreviewMessage>true</SuppressNETCoreSdkPreviewMessage>
     <!-- By default, the VMR builds with online sources when not building source-only. -->
     <DotNetBuildWithOnlineSources Condition="'$(DotNetBuildWithOnlineSources)' == '' and '$(DotNetBuildSourceOnly)' != 'true'">true</DotNetBuildWithOnlineSources>
+    <!-- By default, skip building tests when building the VMR. -->
+    <DotNetBuildSkipTests Condition="'$(DotNetBuildSkipTests)' == ''">true</DotNetBuildSkipTests>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <PropertyGroup>
diff --git a/src/SourceBuild/content/repo-projects/Directory.Build.props b/src/SourceBuild/content/repo-projects/Directory.Build.props
index b1bc1e936..59fe02276 100644
--- a/src/SourceBuild/content/repo-projects/Directory.Build.props
+++ b/src/SourceBuild/content/repo-projects/Directory.Build.props
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@
     <BuildArgs>$(BuildArgs) /p:DotNetBuildRepo=true</BuildArgs>
     <!-- Indicate that the build is being run from the orchestrator -->
     <BuildArgs>$(BuildArgs) /p:DotNetBuildOrchestrator=true</BuildArgs>
-    <BuildArgs Condition="'$(CrossBuild)' == 'true'">$(BuildArgs) /p:CrossBuild=$(CrossBuild)</BuildArgs>
+    <BuildArgs Condition="'$(CrossBuild)' == 'true'">$(BuildArgs) /p:CrossBuild=true</BuildArgs>
+    <BuildArgs Condition="'$(DotNetBuildSkipTests)' == 'true'">$(BuildArgs) /p:DotNetBuildSkipTests=true</BuildArgs>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(DotNetBuildSourceOnly)' != 'true'">