diff --git a/tests/__init__.py b/tests/__init__.py
index 31d4c018b3cb..4bfba60a8499 100644
--- a/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/__init__.py
@@ -327,6 +327,10 @@ def __repr__(self):
 
 
 def requires_crt(reason=None):
+    if callable(reason):
+        raise TypeError(
+            "Use @requires_crt() with parentheses, not bare @requires_crt"
+        )
     if reason is None:
         reason = "Test requires awscrt to be installed"
 
diff --git a/tests/functional/s3/test_cp_command.py b/tests/functional/s3/test_cp_command.py
index 507d133a32e2..d0243d657bd6 100644
--- a/tests/functional/s3/test_cp_command.py
+++ b/tests/functional/s3/test_cp_command.py
@@ -735,7 +735,7 @@ def test_upload_with_checksum_algorithm_crc32(self):
         self.assertEqual(self.operations_called[0][0].name, 'PutObject')
         self.assertEqual(self.operations_called[0][1]['ChecksumAlgorithm'], 'CRC32')
 
-    @requires_crt
+    @requires_crt()
     def test_upload_with_checksum_algorithm_crc32c(self):
         full_path = self.files.create_file('foo.txt', 'contents')
         cmdline = f'{self.prefix} {full_path} s3://bucket/key.txt --checksum-algorithm CRC32C'
@@ -743,7 +743,7 @@ def test_upload_with_checksum_algorithm_crc32c(self):
         self.assertEqual(self.operations_called[0][0].name, 'PutObject')
         self.assertEqual(self.operations_called[0][1]['ChecksumAlgorithm'], 'CRC32C')
 
-    @requires_crt
+    @requires_crt()
     def test_upload_with_checksum_algorithm_crc64nvme(self):
         full_path = self.files.create_file('foo.txt', 'contents')
         cmdline = f'{self.prefix} {full_path} s3://bucket/key.txt --checksum-algorithm CRC64NVME'
diff --git a/tests/functional/s3/test_mv_command.py b/tests/functional/s3/test_mv_command.py
index dcddbad7ca5b..b7e6ca71ed63 100644
--- a/tests/functional/s3/test_mv_command.py
+++ b/tests/functional/s3/test_mv_command.py
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ def test_mv_works_if_outpost_access_point_arn_resolves_to_different_bucket(self)
         self.assertEqual(self.operations_called[2][0].name, 'CopyObject')
         self.assertEqual(self.operations_called[3][0].name, 'DeleteObject')
 
-    @requires_crt
+    @requires_crt()
     def test_mv_works_if_mrap_arn_resolves_to_different_bucket(self):
         cmdline = (f"{self.prefix} s3://bucket/key "
                    "s3://arn:aws:s3::123456789012:accesspoint/foobar.mrap/key "
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ def test_skips_validation_if_keys_are_different_outpost_alias(self):
                    "--validate-same-s3-paths")
         self.assert_runs_mv_without_validation(cmdline)
 
-    @requires_crt
+    @requires_crt()
     def test_skips_validation_if_keys_are_different_mrap_arn(self):
         cmdline = (f"{self.prefix} s3://bucket/key "
                    "s3://arn:aws:s3::123456789012:accesspoint/foobar.mrap/key2 "
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_decorators.py b/tests/unit/test_decorators.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..563a64de75b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_decorators.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# Copyright Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License").
+# You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+# http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+from unittest import mock
+
+import pytest
+
+from tests import requires_crt
+
+
+class TestRequiresCrt:
+    def test_bare_requires_crt_fails_immediately(self):
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+
+            @requires_crt
+            def my_test():
+                pass
+
+    def test_requires_crt_skips_when_no_crt(self):
+        with mock.patch('tests.HAS_CRT', False):
+
+            @requires_crt()
+            def my_test():
+                assert False
+
+            assert getattr(my_test, '__unittest_skip__', False) is True
+
+    def test_requires_crt_runs_when_crt_available(self):
+        with mock.patch('tests.HAS_CRT', True):
+
+            @requires_crt()
+            def my_test():
+                pass
+
+            assert getattr(my_test, '__unittest_skip__', False) is False