diff --git a/packages/grpc-native-core/binding.gyp b/packages/grpc-native-core/binding.gyp
index 67f5a2c3b..37fdb3549 100644
--- a/packages/grpc-native-core/binding.gyp
+++ b/packages/grpc-native-core/binding.gyp
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@
     ],
     'defines': [
       'PB_FIELD_16BIT',
+      'PB_NO_PACKED_STRUCTS=1',
       'GPR_BACKWARDS_COMPATIBILITY_MODE',
       'GRPC_ARES=0',
       'GRPC_UV'
diff --git a/packages/grpc-native-core/build.yaml b/packages/grpc-native-core/build.yaml
index addd757b2..a14a8c63f 100644
--- a/packages/grpc-native-core/build.yaml
+++ b/packages/grpc-native-core/build.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 settings:
   '#': It's possible to have node_version here as a key to override the core's version.
-  node_version: 1.12.3
+  node_version: 1.12.4
diff --git a/packages/grpc-native-core/deps/grpc b/packages/grpc-native-core/deps/grpc
index bec3b5ada..ca08fd9f9 160000
--- a/packages/grpc-native-core/deps/grpc
+++ b/packages/grpc-native-core/deps/grpc
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit bec3b5ada2c5e5d782dff0b7b5018df646b65cb0
+Subproject commit ca08fd9f9b8043c6ce18071698d8d98b5b7ea1b0
diff --git a/packages/grpc-native-core/package.json b/packages/grpc-native-core/package.json
index d57db163c..c12078ee7 100644
--- a/packages/grpc-native-core/package.json
+++ b/packages/grpc-native-core/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "grpc",
-  "version": "1.12.3",
+  "version": "1.12.4",
   "author": "Google Inc.",
   "description": "gRPC Library for Node",
   "homepage": "https://grpc.io/",
diff --git a/packages/grpc-native-core/templates/binding.gyp.template b/packages/grpc-native-core/templates/binding.gyp.template
index 85ddbe655..30cca7c2d 100644
--- a/packages/grpc-native-core/templates/binding.gyp.template
+++ b/packages/grpc-native-core/templates/binding.gyp.template
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@
       ],
       'defines': [
         'PB_FIELD_16BIT',
+        'PB_NO_PACKED_STRUCTS=1',
         'GPR_BACKWARDS_COMPATIBILITY_MODE',
         'GRPC_ARES=0',
         'GRPC_UV'