diff --git a/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql57 b/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql57
index bc88206b304..3ebed377933 100644
--- a/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql57
+++ b/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql57
@@ -55,4 +55,4 @@ COPY --from=builder --chown=vitess:vitess /vt/install /vt
 VOLUME /vt/vtdataroot
 USER vitess
 
-CMD /vt/bin/vttestserver -port $PORT -keyspaces $KEYSPACES -num_shards $NUM_SHARDS -mysql_bind_host ${MYSQL_BIND_HOST:-127.0.0.1}
+CMD /vt/bin/vttestserver -port $PORT -keyspaces $KEYSPACES -num_shards $NUM_SHARDS -mysql_bind_host ${MYSQL_BIND_HOST:-127.0.0.1} -mysql_server_version ${MYSQL_SERVER_VERSION:-5.7.9-vitess}
diff --git a/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql80 b/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql80
index a04e1714f39..71c0632c165 100644
--- a/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql80
+++ b/docker/vttestserver/Dockerfile.mysql80
@@ -55,4 +55,4 @@ COPY --from=builder --chown=vitess:vitess /vt/install /vt
 VOLUME /vt/vtdataroot
 USER vitess
 
-CMD /vt/bin/vttestserver -port $PORT -keyspaces $KEYSPACES -num_shards $NUM_SHARDS -mysql_bind_host ${MYSQL_BIND_HOST:-127.0.0.1}
+CMD /vt/bin/vttestserver -port $PORT -keyspaces $KEYSPACES -num_shards $NUM_SHARDS -mysql_bind_host ${MYSQL_BIND_HOST:-127.0.0.1} -mysql_server_version ${MYSQL_SERVER_VERSION:-8.0.21-vitess}
diff --git a/go/vt/vttest/vtprocess.go b/go/vt/vttest/vtprocess.go
index 84c62e66e21..738a597929e 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttest/vtprocess.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttest/vtprocess.go
@@ -247,6 +247,9 @@ func VtcomboProcess(env Environment, args *Config, mysql MySQLManager) *VtProces
 	if args.VSchemaDDLAuthorizedUsers != "" {
 		vt.ExtraArgs = append(vt.ExtraArgs, []string{"-vschema_ddl_authorized_users", args.VSchemaDDLAuthorizedUsers}...)
 	}
+	if *servenv.MySQLServerVersion != "" {
+		vt.ExtraArgs = append(vt.ExtraArgs, "-mysql_server_version", *servenv.MySQLServerVersion)
+	}
 
 	if socket != "" {
 		vt.ExtraArgs = append(vt.ExtraArgs, []string{