diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index a823527581..b4a4985bee 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -97,7 +97,29 @@
                     <dataFile>${jacoco.reportPath}</dataFile>
                     <append>true</append>
 				</configuration>
-            </plugin>                 
+            </plugin>
+            <plugin>
+                <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
+                <artifactId>exec-maven-plugin</artifactId>
+                <version>3.1.0</version>
+                <executions>
+                    <execution>
+                        <id>run-make-root-only</id>
+                        <phase>compile</phase>
+                        <goals>
+                            <goal>exec</goal>
+                        </goals>
+                        <configuration>
+                            <executable>make</executable>
+                            <arguments>
+                                <argument>proto-gen</argument>
+                            </arguments>
+                            <failOnError>true</failOnError>
+                        </configuration>
+                        <inherited>false</inherited>
+                    </execution>
+                </executions>
+            </plugin>        
         </plugins>
     </build>
 
@@ -126,4 +148,3 @@
         </dependency>
     </dependencies>
 </project>
-
diff --git a/scripts/proto-gen.sh b/scripts/proto-gen.sh
index ff32a1f164..ff5d20bd51 100644
--- a/scripts/proto-gen.sh
+++ b/scripts/proto-gen.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 # Please install buf if not already installed by following the instructions at https://docs.buf.build/installation
 if ! command -v buf >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     echo "Please install buf if not already installed by following the instructions at https://docs.buf.build/installation"
-    exit
+    exit 1
 fi
 
 buf lint protobuf