diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions.IntegrationTests/SamplesValidation.cs b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions.IntegrationTests/SamplesValidation.cs
index bd88c55cb8..c416fb6a2a 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions.IntegrationTests/SamplesValidation.cs
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions.IntegrationTests/SamplesValidation.cs
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@ public sealed class SamplesValidation(ITestOutputHelper outputHelper) : IAsyncLi
     private const string RedisPort = "6379";
 
     private static readonly string s_dotnetTargetFramework = GetTargetFramework();
+
+#if DEBUG
+    private const string BuildConfiguration = "Debug";
+#else
+    private const string BuildConfiguration = "Release";
+#endif
     private static readonly HttpClient s_sharedHttpClient = new();
     private static readonly IConfiguration s_configuration =
         new ConfigurationBuilder()
@@ -825,7 +831,7 @@ private async Task BuildSampleAsync(string samplePath)
         ProcessStartInfo buildInfo = new()
         {
             FileName = "dotnet",
-            Arguments = $"build -f {s_dotnetTargetFramework}",
+            Arguments = $"build -f {s_dotnetTargetFramework} -c {BuildConfiguration}",
             WorkingDirectory = samplePath,
             UseShellExecute = false,
             RedirectStandardOutput = true,
@@ -855,7 +861,7 @@ private Process StartFunctionApp(string samplePath, List<OutputLog> logs)
         ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new()
         {
             FileName = "dotnet",
-            Arguments = $"run --no-build -f {s_dotnetTargetFramework} --port {AzureFunctionsPort}",
+            Arguments = $"run --no-build -f {s_dotnetTargetFramework} -c {BuildConfiguration} --port {AzureFunctionsPort}",
             WorkingDirectory = samplePath,
             UseShellExecute = false,
             RedirectStandardOutput = true,
diff --git a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions.IntegrationTests/WorkflowSamplesValidation.cs b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions.IntegrationTests/WorkflowSamplesValidation.cs
index d5ea083894..efb02b1aff 100644
--- a/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions.IntegrationTests/WorkflowSamplesValidation.cs
+++ b/dotnet/tests/Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions.IntegrationTests/WorkflowSamplesValidation.cs
@@ -20,6 +20,12 @@ public sealed class WorkflowSamplesValidation(ITestOutputHelper outputHelper) :
     private const string DtsPort = "8080";
 
     private static readonly string s_dotnetTargetFramework = GetTargetFramework();
+
+#if DEBUG
+    private const string BuildConfiguration = "Debug";
+#else
+    private const string BuildConfiguration = "Release";
+#endif
     private static readonly HttpClient s_sharedHttpClient = new();
     private static readonly IConfiguration s_configuration =
         new ConfigurationBuilder()
@@ -437,7 +443,7 @@ private Process StartFunctionApp(string samplePath, List<OutputLog> logs, bool r
         ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new()
         {
             FileName = "dotnet",
-            Arguments = $"run -f {s_dotnetTargetFramework} --port {AzureFunctionsPort}",
+            Arguments = $"run -f {s_dotnetTargetFramework} -c {BuildConfiguration} --port {AzureFunctionsPort}",
             WorkingDirectory = samplePath,
             UseShellExecute = false,
             RedirectStandardOutput = true,