diff --git a/tools/run_tests/run_performance_tests.py b/tools/run_tests/run_performance_tests.py
index 7c04d22..ee4102c 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/run_performance_tests.py
+++ b/tools/run_tests/run_performance_tests.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@
     user_at_host = '%s@%s' % (_REMOTE_HOST_USERNAME, remote_host)
     ssh_cmd = ['ssh']
     cmdline = ['timeout', '%s' % (worker_timeout + 30)] + cmdline
-    ssh_cmd.extend([str(user_at_host), 'cd ~/performance_workspace/grpc/ && %s' % ' '.join(cmdline)])
+    ssh_cmd.extend([str(user_at_host), 'cd ~/performance_workspace/grpc/ && tools/run_tests/start_port_server.py && %s' % ' '.join(cmdline)])
     cmdline = ssh_cmd
 
   jobspec = jobset.JobSpec(