diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/code-generator/hack/verify-codegen.sh b/staging/src/k8s.io/code-generator/hack/verify-codegen.sh
index e69e1107482..601a76962c8 100755
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/code-generator/hack/verify-codegen.sh
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/code-generator/hack/verify-codegen.sh
@@ -47,3 +47,7 @@ else
   echo "${DIFFROOT} is out of date. Please run hack/update-codegen.sh"
   exit 1
 fi
+
+# smoke test
+echo "Smoke testing _example by compiling..."
+go build ${SCRIPT_ROOT}/_example/...
\ No newline at end of file