diff --git a/tools/code-generation/smithy/codegen/settings.gradle.kts b/tools/code-generation/smithy/codegen/settings.gradle.kts
index c56b56db61e..244134c1672 100644
--- a/tools/code-generation/smithy/codegen/settings.gradle.kts
+++ b/tools/code-generation/smithy/codegen/settings.gradle.kts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ dependencyResolutionManagement {
     versionCatalogs {
         create("codegen") {
             // Smithy dependencies
-            version("smithy", "1.51.0")  // Centralize the version for Smithy-related dependencies
+            version("smithy", "1.53.0")  // Centralize the version for Smithy-related dependencies
             library("model", "software.amazon.smithy", "smithy-model").versionRef("smithy")
             library("aws-traits", "software.amazon.smithy", "smithy-aws-traits").versionRef("smithy")
             library("codegen-core", "software.amazon.smithy", "smithy-codegen-core").versionRef("smithy")
diff --git a/tools/scripts/run_code_generation.py b/tools/scripts/run_code_generation.py
index 6566dfda65f..57376c24ba9 100644
--- a/tools/scripts/run_code_generation.py
+++ b/tools/scripts/run_code_generation.py
@@ -668,7 +668,6 @@ def main():
             return -1
 
         print(f"Code generation done, (re)generated {len(done)} packages.")  # Including defaults and partitions
-    
     #generate code using smithy for all discoverable clients
     if (args["generate_smoke_tests"] and clients_to_build):
 
@@ -678,7 +677,9 @@ def main():
         if generate_smoke_tests(smithy_services, json.dumps(smithy_c2j_data)) :
             #move the output to generated folder
             copy_cpp_codegen_contents(os.path.abspath("tools/code-generation/smithy/codegen"), "cpp-codegen-smoke-tests-plugin", os.path.abspath( "generated/smoke-tests"))
-
+        else:
+            print("Failed to generate code for smoke-tests")
+            return -1
     return 0