diff --git a/codegen/protocol-tests/build.gradle.kts b/codegen/protocol-tests/build.gradle.kts
index f767e24df20..7064d116b31 100644
--- a/codegen/protocol-tests/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/codegen/protocol-tests/build.gradle.kts
@@ -73,14 +73,6 @@ dependencies {
     codegen(libs.smithy.aws.protocol.tests)
 }
 
-tasks.generateSmithyProjections {
-    // ensure the generated clients use the same version of the runtime as the aws aws-runtime
-    val smithyKotlinRuntimeVersion = libs.versions.smithy.kotlin.runtime.version.get()
-    doFirst {
-        System.setProperty("smithy.kotlin.codegen.clientRuntimeVersion", smithyKotlinRuntimeVersion)
-    }
-}
-
 abstract class ProtocolTestTask @Inject constructor(private val project: Project) : DefaultTask() {
     /**
      * The projection