diff --git a/example/.bazelrc b/example/.bazelrc
index 1913390b..512de7f5 100644
--- a/example/.bazelrc
+++ b/example/.bazelrc
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ common --enable_platform_specific_config
 # see https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_jvm_external/issues/445
 build --repo_env=JAVA_HOME=../bazel_tools/jdk
 
-common --incompatible_enable_proto_toolchain_resolution
+# TODO(alexeagle): opt-in to this flag when we drop Bazel 6 testing
+# common --incompatible_enable_proto_toolchain_resolution
+
 common --@aspect_rules_ts//ts:skipLibCheck=always
 
 # enable symlinks on windows
diff --git a/example/tools/format/BUILD.bazel b/example/tools/format/BUILD.bazel
index a6f44934..78ba1bc0 100644
--- a/example/tools/format/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/example/tools/format/BUILD.bazel
@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@ format_test(
     # kotlin = ":ktfmt",
     markdown = ":prettier",
     no_sandbox = True,  # Enables formatting the entire workspace, paired with 'workspace' attribute
-    protocol_buffer = "//tools/lint:buf",
+    # TODO(alexeagle): enable when --incompatible_enable_proto_toolchain_resolution can be flipped in .bazelrc
+    # protocol_buffer = "//tools/lint:buf",
     python = "@aspect_rules_lint//format:ruff",
     scala = ":scalafmt",
     sql = ":prettier",