diff --git a/images/ubuntu/scripts/build/install-bazel.sh b/images/ubuntu/scripts/build/install-bazel.sh
index 70fe46f77..c336cea7e 100644
--- a/images/ubuntu/scripts/build/install-bazel.sh
+++ b/images/ubuntu/scripts/build/install-bazel.sh
@@ -6,11 +6,19 @@
 
 # Source the helpers for use with the script
 source $HELPER_SCRIPTS/install.sh
+source $HELPER_SCRIPTS/etc-environment.sh
 
 # Install bazelisk
 npm install -g @bazel/bazelisk
 
-# run bazelisk once in order to install /usr/local/bin/bazel binary
-sudo -u $SUDO_USER bazel version
+# Run bazelisk once in order to install /usr/local/bin/bazel binary
+bazel version
+
+# Get the installed Bazel version from bazelisk
+BAZEL_VERSION=$(bazel --version | grep "Build label:" | awk '{print $3}')
+
+# Set USE_BAZEL_FALLBACK_VERSION so that users without .bazelversion
+# get the preinstalled version instead of downloading latest
+set_etc_environment_variable "USE_BAZEL_FALLBACK_VERSION" "silent:${BAZEL_VERSION}"
 
 invoke_tests "Tools" "Bazel"