diff --git a/DEPS b/DEPS
index 6b00452db1..d29ef8ef0f 100644
--- a/DEPS
+++ b/DEPS
@@ -3167,6 +3167,15 @@ hooks = [
                '--bucket', 'chromium-webrtc-resources',
                'src/resources'],
   },
+  # Download and initialize "vpython" VirtualEnv environment packages.
+  {
+    'name': 'vpython_common',
+    'pattern': '.',
+    'action': [ 'vpython',
+                '-vpython-spec', 'src/.vpython',
+                '-vpython-tool', 'install',
+    ],
+  },
 ]
 
 recursedeps = []
diff --git a/tools_webrtc/perf/webrtc_dashboard_upload.py b/tools_webrtc/perf/webrtc_dashboard_upload.py
index df5b9bb2c8..a709af5dcd 100644
--- a/tools_webrtc/perf/webrtc_dashboard_upload.py
+++ b/tools_webrtc/perf/webrtc_dashboard_upload.py
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ import argparse
 import os
 import sys
 
+# Even if protobuf is not used directly, this allows transitive imports
+# of the protobuf library to use the vpython wheel specified in the root
+# level .vpython (see bugs.webrtc.org/12211 for context).
+import google.protobuf  # pylint: disable=unused-import
+
 
 def _CreateParser():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()