diff --git a/appengine/flexible/staticcontent/app.yaml b/appengine/flexible/staticcontent/app.yaml
index 5ccf142254..8b5360cc02 100644
--- a/appengine/flexible/staticcontent/app.yaml
+++ b/appengine/flexible/staticcontent/app.yaml
@@ -3,3 +3,8 @@ env: flex
 
 runtime_config:
   document_root: web
+  operating_system: ubuntu22
+  runtime_version: 8.3
+
+build_env_variables:
+  NGINX_SERVES_STATIC_FILES: true