diff --git a/eng/pipelines/templates/build-pull-request.yml b/eng/pipelines/templates/build-pull-request.yml
index 4872e7fa6d2..dc0e8c16abc 100644
--- a/eng/pipelines/templates/build-pull-request.yml
+++ b/eng/pipelines/templates/build-pull-request.yml
@@ -24,6 +24,14 @@ jobs:
   - powershell: npm --version
     displayName: Check npm version
 
+  # Ensure the .NET runtime needed by our unit tests is installed.
+  - task: UseDotNet@2
+    displayName: Install .NET Runtime
+    inputs:
+      packageType: runtime
+      # This should match the target of our unit test projects.
+      version: 7.0.x
+
   # Allows for accessing the internal AzDO feed (vs-impl-internal) for project restore via Azure Artifacts Credential Provider.
   # See: https://github.com/microsoft/artifacts-credprovider#automatic-usage
   # YAML reference: https://docs.microsoft.com/azure/devops/pipelines/tasks/package/nuget-authenticate?view=azure-devops
diff --git a/version.json b/version.json
index b1403f15fe1..416c2110696 100644
--- a/version.json
+++ b/version.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dotnet/Nerdbank.GitVersioning/main/src/NerdBank.GitVersioning/version.schema.json",
-  "version": "17.8",
+  "version": "17.9",
   "cloudBuild": {
     "setAllVariables": true
   }