diff --git a/gulpfile.js b/gulpfile.js
index d18b3749..53ee240a 100644
--- a/gulpfile.js
+++ b/gulpfile.js
@@ -34,10 +34,10 @@ require('./test/gulpfile');
 const root = __dirname;
 
 gulp.task('install.all', 'Install dependencies for all subdirectory packages',
-          ['js.core.install', 'native.core.install', 'health-check.install', 'internal.test.install']);
+          ['js.core.install', 'native.core.install', 'surface.install', 'health-check.install', 'internal.test.install']);
 
 gulp.task('install.all.windows', 'Install dependencies for all subdirectory packages for MS Windows',
-          ['js.core.install', 'native.core.install.windows', 'health-check.install', 'internal.test.install']);
+          ['js.core.install', 'native.core.install.windows', 'surface.install', 'health-check.install', 'internal.test.install']);
 
 gulp.task('lint', 'Emit linting errors in source and test files',
           ['js.core.lint', 'native.core.lint']);
diff --git a/packages/grpc-surface/gulpfile.js b/packages/grpc-surface/gulpfile.js
index 88488fd7..5dfde684 100644
--- a/packages/grpc-surface/gulpfile.js
+++ b/packages/grpc-surface/gulpfile.js
@@ -25,4 +25,6 @@ const execa = require('execa');
 
 const surfaceDir = __dirname;
 
-// more to come
+gulp.task('surface.install', 'Install surface dependencies', () => {
+  return execa('npm', ['install', '--unsafe-perm'], {cwd: surfaceDir, stdio: 'inherit'});
+});