diff --git a/codegen-output/aws-json-1-0/README.md b/codegen-output/aws-json-1-0/README.md
index 306705d96..19ea5f3c1 100644
--- a/codegen-output/aws-json-1-0/README.md
+++ b/codegen-output/aws-json-1-0/README.md
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 ## Sample Json 1.0 Protocol Service Client
 
-awsjson10 client
+Python client for Sample Json 1.0 Protocol Service
diff --git a/codegen-output/aws-json-1-0/pyproject.toml b/codegen-output/aws-json-1-0/pyproject.toml
index 8b07cfc29..a9b4f5b94 100644
--- a/codegen-output/aws-json-1-0/pyproject.toml
+++ b/codegen-output/aws-json-1-0/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 [project]
 name = "awsjson10"
 version = "0.0.1"
-description = "awsjson10 client"
+description = "Python client for Sample Json 1.0 Protocol Service"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 keywords = ["smithy", "awsjson10"]
diff --git a/codegen-output/aws-json-1-1/README.md b/codegen-output/aws-json-1-1/README.md
index a811f30ed..984d1fbde 100644
--- a/codegen-output/aws-json-1-1/README.md
+++ b/codegen-output/aws-json-1-1/README.md
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 ## Sample Json 1.1 Protocol Service Client
 
-awsjson11 client
+Python client for Sample Json 1.1 Protocol Service
diff --git a/codegen-output/aws-json-1-1/pyproject.toml b/codegen-output/aws-json-1-1/pyproject.toml
index 921eedbcd..c6f588ad9 100644
--- a/codegen-output/aws-json-1-1/pyproject.toml
+++ b/codegen-output/aws-json-1-1/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 [project]
 name = "awsjson11"
 version = "0.0.1"
-description = "awsjson11 client"
+description = "Python client for Sample Json 1.1 Protocol Service"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 keywords = ["smithy", "awsjson11"]
diff --git a/codegen-output/aws-query/README.md b/codegen-output/aws-query/README.md
index 9e5d7edaa..fdd59c80f 100644
--- a/codegen-output/aws-query/README.md
+++ b/codegen-output/aws-query/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 ## Sample Query Protocol Service Client
 
-awsquery client
+Python client for Sample Query Protocol Service
 
 ### Documentation
 
diff --git a/codegen-output/aws-query/pyproject.toml b/codegen-output/aws-query/pyproject.toml
index 289f33685..eade7c2a8 100644
--- a/codegen-output/aws-query/pyproject.toml
+++ b/codegen-output/aws-query/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 [project]
 name = "awsquery"
 version = "0.0.1"
-description = "awsquery client"
+description = "Python client for Sample Query Protocol Service"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 keywords = ["smithy", "awsquery"]
diff --git a/codegen-output/ec2-query/README.md b/codegen-output/ec2-query/README.md
index 05c376cf8..c24b4b691 100644
--- a/codegen-output/ec2-query/README.md
+++ b/codegen-output/ec2-query/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 ## Sample Ec2 Protocol Service Client
 
-ec2query client
+Python client for Sample Ec2 Protocol Service
 
 ### Documentation
 
diff --git a/codegen-output/ec2-query/pyproject.toml b/codegen-output/ec2-query/pyproject.toml
index 1fb477a90..4b6ce3a64 100644
--- a/codegen-output/ec2-query/pyproject.toml
+++ b/codegen-output/ec2-query/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 [project]
 name = "ec2query"
 version = "0.0.1"
-description = "ec2query client"
+description = "Python client for Sample Ec2 Protocol Service"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 keywords = ["smithy", "ec2query"]
diff --git a/codegen-output/my-handwritten-model/README.md b/codegen-output/my-handwritten-model/README.md
index cc10b198b..a7227557a 100644
--- a/codegen-output/my-handwritten-model/README.md
+++ b/codegen-output/my-handwritten-model/README.md
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 ## My Handwritten Model Client
 
-my_handwritten_model client
+Python client for My Handwritten Model
diff --git a/codegen-output/my-handwritten-model/pyproject.toml b/codegen-output/my-handwritten-model/pyproject.toml
index f1c5fd4fe..e58cf27f1 100644
--- a/codegen-output/my-handwritten-model/pyproject.toml
+++ b/codegen-output/my-handwritten-model/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 [project]
 name = "my_handwritten_model"
 version = "0.0.1"
-description = "my_handwritten_model client"
+description = "Python client for My Handwritten Model"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 keywords = ["smithy", "my_handwritten_model"]
diff --git a/codegen-output/non-query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/README.md b/codegen-output/non-query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/README.md
index 93029c3f8..7b955d6a8 100644
--- a/codegen-output/non-query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/README.md
+++ b/codegen-output/non-query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/README.md
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 ## Non Query Compatible RpcV2 Protocol Service Client
 
-nonquerycompatiblerpcv2cbor client
+Python client for Non Query Compatible RpcV2 Protocol Service
diff --git a/codegen-output/non-query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/pyproject.toml b/codegen-output/non-query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/pyproject.toml
index 1b286f1cd..5937a8056 100644
--- a/codegen-output/non-query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/pyproject.toml
+++ b/codegen-output/non-query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 [project]
 name = "nonquerycompatiblerpcv2cbor"
 version = "0.0.1"
-description = "nonquerycompatiblerpcv2cbor client"
+description = "Python client for Non Query Compatible RpcV2 Protocol Service"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 keywords = ["smithy", "nonquerycompatiblerpcv2cbor"]
diff --git a/codegen-output/query-compatible-aws-json-1-0/README.md b/codegen-output/query-compatible-aws-json-1-0/README.md
index 540af86e5..2f8ba8249 100644
--- a/codegen-output/query-compatible-aws-json-1-0/README.md
+++ b/codegen-output/query-compatible-aws-json-1-0/README.md
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 ## Query Compatible Json 1.0 Protocol Service Client
 
-querycompatibleawsjson10 client
+Python client for Query Compatible Json 1.0 Protocol Service
diff --git a/codegen-output/query-compatible-aws-json-1-0/pyproject.toml b/codegen-output/query-compatible-aws-json-1-0/pyproject.toml
index 1d942bfdc..0fdccd779 100644
--- a/codegen-output/query-compatible-aws-json-1-0/pyproject.toml
+++ b/codegen-output/query-compatible-aws-json-1-0/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 [project]
 name = "querycompatibleawsjson10"
 version = "0.0.1"
-description = "querycompatibleawsjson10 client"
+description = "Python client for Query Compatible Json 1.0 Protocol Service"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 keywords = ["smithy", "querycompatibleawsjson10"]
diff --git a/codegen-output/query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/README.md b/codegen-output/query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/README.md
index e35424ce9..5928f1851 100644
--- a/codegen-output/query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/README.md
+++ b/codegen-output/query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/README.md
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 ## Query Compatible RpcV2 Protocol Service Client
 
-querycompatiblerpcv2cbor client
+Python client for Query Compatible RpcV2 Protocol Service
diff --git a/codegen-output/query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/pyproject.toml b/codegen-output/query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/pyproject.toml
index b26f4075c..8be942985 100644
--- a/codegen-output/query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/pyproject.toml
+++ b/codegen-output/query-compatible-rpcv2-cbor/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 [project]
 name = "querycompatiblerpcv2cbor"
 version = "0.0.1"
-description = "querycompatiblerpcv2cbor client"
+description = "Python client for Query Compatible RpcV2 Protocol Service"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 keywords = ["smithy", "querycompatiblerpcv2cbor"]
diff --git a/codegen-output/rest-json-1/README.md b/codegen-output/rest-json-1/README.md
index 6587b4974..239dd0567 100644
--- a/codegen-output/rest-json-1/README.md
+++ b/codegen-output/rest-json-1/README.md
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 ## Sample Rest Json Protocol Service Client
 
-restjson client
+Python client for Sample Rest Json Protocol Service
diff --git a/codegen-output/rest-json-1/pyproject.toml b/codegen-output/rest-json-1/pyproject.toml
index a3c6b76b4..28eae9ce9 100644
--- a/codegen-output/rest-json-1/pyproject.toml
+++ b/codegen-output/rest-json-1/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 [project]
 name = "restjson"
 version = "0.0.1"
-description = "restjson client"
+description = "Python client for Sample Rest Json Protocol Service"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 keywords = ["smithy", "restjson"]
diff --git a/codegen-output/rest-xml-with-namespace/README.md b/codegen-output/rest-xml-with-namespace/README.md
index 1f9b69a3d..9c005dcfc 100644
--- a/codegen-output/rest-xml-with-namespace/README.md
+++ b/codegen-output/rest-xml-with-namespace/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 ## Sample Rest Xml Protocol Service With Namespace Client
 
-restxmlwithnamespace client
+Python client for Sample Rest Xml Protocol Service With Namespace
 
 ### Documentation
 
diff --git a/codegen-output/rest-xml-with-namespace/pyproject.toml b/codegen-output/rest-xml-with-namespace/pyproject.toml
index ef8901cdc..2a0359aa8 100644
--- a/codegen-output/rest-xml-with-namespace/pyproject.toml
+++ b/codegen-output/rest-xml-with-namespace/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 [project]
 name = "restxmlwithnamespace"
 version = "0.0.1"
-description = "restxmlwithnamespace client"
+description = "Python client for Sample Rest Xml Protocol Service With Namespace"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 keywords = ["smithy", "restxmlwithnamespace"]
diff --git a/codegen-output/rest-xml/README.md b/codegen-output/rest-xml/README.md
index e1cb86613..365c8f067 100644
--- a/codegen-output/rest-xml/README.md
+++ b/codegen-output/rest-xml/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 ## Sample Rest Xml Protocol Service Client
 
-restxml client
+Python client for Sample Rest Xml Protocol Service
 
 ### Documentation
 
diff --git a/codegen-output/rest-xml/pyproject.toml b/codegen-output/rest-xml/pyproject.toml
index e0dc82aac..6d34622cd 100644
--- a/codegen-output/rest-xml/pyproject.toml
+++ b/codegen-output/rest-xml/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 [project]
 name = "restxml"
 version = "0.0.1"
-description = "restxml client"
+description = "Python client for Sample Rest Xml Protocol Service"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 keywords = ["smithy", "restxml"]
diff --git a/codegen-output/rpcv2-cbor/README.md b/codegen-output/rpcv2-cbor/README.md
index 64b17629a..7beeef19f 100644
--- a/codegen-output/rpcv2-cbor/README.md
+++ b/codegen-output/rpcv2-cbor/README.md
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 ## RpcV2 Protocol Service Client
 
-rpcv2cbor client
+Python client for RpcV2 Protocol Service
diff --git a/codegen-output/rpcv2-cbor/pyproject.toml b/codegen-output/rpcv2-cbor/pyproject.toml
index 91fd95a8d..1c45fc0bd 100644
--- a/codegen-output/rpcv2-cbor/pyproject.toml
+++ b/codegen-output/rpcv2-cbor/pyproject.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 [project]
 name = "rpcv2cbor"
 version = "0.0.1"
-description = "rpcv2cbor client"
+description = "Python client for RpcV2 Protocol Service"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 keywords = ["smithy", "rpcv2cbor"]
diff --git a/codegen/core/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/PythonSettings.java b/codegen/core/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/PythonSettings.java
index 5c9cdbbb0..0671e3185 100644
--- a/codegen/core/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/PythonSettings.java
+++ b/codegen/core/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/PythonSettings.java
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 package software.amazon.smithy.python.codegen;
 
 import java.util.Arrays;
-import java.util.Locale;
 import java.util.Objects;
 import software.amazon.smithy.codegen.core.CodegenException;
 import software.amazon.smithy.model.Model;
@@ -56,9 +55,8 @@ private PythonSettings(Builder builder) {
                 builder.service,
                 builder.moduleName,
                 builder.moduleVersion,
-                StringUtils.isBlank(builder.moduleDescription)
-                        ? builder.moduleName + " " + builder.artifactType.name().toLowerCase(Locale.ENGLISH)
-                        : builder.moduleDescription,
+                // Unset descriptions stay empty; SetupGenerator resolves them from the service.
+                StringUtils.isBlank(builder.moduleDescription) ? "" : builder.moduleDescription,
                 builder.artifactType);
     }
 
@@ -87,10 +85,9 @@ public ServiceShape service(Model model) {
     public static PythonSettings fromNode(ObjectNode config) {
         config.warnIfAdditionalProperties(Arrays.asList(SERVICE, MODULE_NAME, MODULE_DESCRIPTION, MODULE_VERSION));
 
-        String moduleName = config.expectStringMember(MODULE_NAME).getValue();
         Builder builder = builder()
                 .service(config.expectStringMember(SERVICE).expectShapeId())
-                .moduleName(moduleName)
+                .moduleName(config.expectStringMember(MODULE_NAME).getValue())
                 .moduleVersion(config.expectStringMember(MODULE_VERSION).getValue());
         config.getStringMember(MODULE_DESCRIPTION).map(StringNode::getValue).ifPresent(builder::moduleDescription);
         return builder.build();
diff --git a/codegen/core/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/generators/SetupGenerator.java b/codegen/core/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/generators/SetupGenerator.java
index 58d49d35e..dda9482e2 100644
--- a/codegen/core/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/generators/SetupGenerator.java
+++ b/codegen/core/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/generators/SetupGenerator.java
@@ -41,8 +41,24 @@ public static void generateSetup(
             GenerationContext context
     ) {
         var dependencies = gatherDependencies(context.writerDelegator().getDependencies().stream());
-        writePyproject(settings, context.writerDelegator(), dependencies);
-        writeReadme(settings, context);
+        var description = resolveDescription(settings, context);
+        writePyproject(settings, description, context.writerDelegator(), dependencies);
+        writeReadme(settings, description, context);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Use the configured description if set, otherwise describe the client or types
+     * package by the service's {@code smithy.api#title} trait or else the service shape's name.
+     */
+    private static String resolveDescription(PythonSettings settings, GenerationContext context) {
+        if (!StringUtils.isBlank(settings.moduleDescription())) {
+            return settings.moduleDescription();
+        }
+        var service = context.model().expectShape(settings.service());
+        var artifact = settings.artifactType() == PythonSettings.ArtifactType.TYPES ? "types" : "client";
+        return "Python " + artifact + " for " + service.getTrait(TitleTrait.class)
+                .map(StringTrait::getValue)
+                .orElse(service.getId().getName());
     }
 
     /**
@@ -106,6 +122,7 @@ private static Map<String, Map<String, SymbolDependency>> gatherDependencies(
      */
     private static void writePyproject(
             PythonSettings settings,
+            String description,
             WriterDelegator<PythonWriter> writers,
             Map<String, Map<String, SymbolDependency>> dependencies
     ) {
@@ -139,7 +156,7 @@ private static void writePyproject(
                         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14",
                         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.15"
                     ]
-                    """, settings.moduleName(), settings.moduleVersion(), settings.moduleDescription());
+                    """, settings.moduleName(), settings.moduleVersion(), description);
 
             Optional.ofNullable(dependencies.get(PythonDependency.Type.DEPENDENCY.getType())).ifPresent(deps -> {
                 writer.openBlock("dependencies = [", "]\n", () -> writeDependencyList(writer, deps.values()));
@@ -283,6 +300,7 @@ private static List<String> getOptionalDependencies(SymbolDependency dependency)
 
     private static void writeReadme(
             PythonSettings settings,
+            String description,
             GenerationContext context
     ) {
         var service = context.model().expectShape(settings.service());
@@ -292,17 +310,13 @@ private static void writeReadme(
                 .map(StringTrait::getValue)
                 .orElse(StringUtils.capitalize(settings.moduleName()));
 
-        var description = StringUtils.isBlank(settings.moduleDescription())
-                ? "Generated service client for " + title
-                : StringUtils.wrap(settings.moduleDescription(), 80);
-
         context.writerDelegator().useFileWriter("README.md", writer -> {
             writer.pushState(new ReadmeSection());
             writer.write("""
                     ## $L Client
 
                     $L
-                    """, title, description);
+                    """, title, StringUtils.wrap(description, 80));
 
             service.getTrait(DocumentationTrait.class).map(StringTrait::getValue).ifPresent(documentation -> {
                 writer.write("""
diff --git a/codegen/core/src/test/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/generators/SetupGeneratorTest.java b/codegen/core/src/test/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/generators/SetupGeneratorTest.java
index 91c778902..097191436 100644
--- a/codegen/core/src/test/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/generators/SetupGeneratorTest.java
+++ b/codegen/core/src/test/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/generators/SetupGeneratorTest.java
@@ -4,19 +4,27 @@
  */
 package software.amazon.smithy.python.codegen.generators;
 
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertAll;
 import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertTrue;
 
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.stream.Stream;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import org.junit.jupiter.params.ParameterizedTest;
+import org.junit.jupiter.params.provider.Arguments;
+import org.junit.jupiter.params.provider.MethodSource;
 import software.amazon.smithy.build.MockManifest;
 import software.amazon.smithy.codegen.core.SymbolDependency;
 import software.amazon.smithy.model.Model;
+import software.amazon.smithy.model.node.ObjectNode;
 import software.amazon.smithy.model.shapes.ServiceShape;
 import software.amazon.smithy.model.traits.DocumentationTrait;
+import software.amazon.smithy.model.traits.TitleTrait;
 import software.amazon.smithy.python.codegen.GenerationContext;
 import software.amazon.smithy.python.codegen.PythonSettings;
+import software.amazon.smithy.python.codegen.PythonSettings.ArtifactType;
 import software.amazon.smithy.python.codegen.PythonSymbolProvider;
 import software.amazon.smithy.python.codegen.SmithyPythonDependency;
 import software.amazon.smithy.python.codegen.writer.PythonDelegator;
@@ -70,4 +78,92 @@ public void readmeKeepsRawTripleQuotesInCodeSpans() {
 
         assertTrue(readme.contains("Use `\"\"\"` here."), readme);
     }
+
+    static Stream<Arguments> packageDescriptionCases() {
+        var titled = service("smithy.example#Weather", "Example Weather Service");
+        var untitled = service("smithy.example#Weather", null);
+        var client = ArtifactType.CLIENT;
+        var types = ArtifactType.TYPES;
+        var titledDefault = "Python client for Example Weather Service";
+        var titledTypesDefault = "Python types for Example Weather Service";
+        return Stream.of(
+                Arguments.of("explicit", titled, "Custom description", client, "Custom description"),
+                Arguments.of("explicit old default", titled, "test_client client", client, "test_client client"),
+                Arguments.of("blank", titled, "   ", client, titledDefault),
+                Arguments.of("titled", titled, null, client, titledDefault),
+                Arguments.of("untitled", untitled, null, client, "Python client for Weather"),
+                Arguments.of("types default", titled, null, types, titledTypesDefault),
+                Arguments.of("types untitled", untitled, null, types, "Python types for Weather"),
+                Arguments.of("types blank", titled, "   ", types, titledTypesDefault),
+                Arguments.of("types explicit", titled, "Custom types", types, "Custom types"),
+                Arguments.of("types explicit old default", titled, "test_client types", types, "test_client types"));
+    }
+
+    @ParameterizedTest(name = "{0}")
+    @MethodSource("packageDescriptionCases")
+    public void resolvesPackageDescription(
+            String name,
+            ServiceShape service,
+            String moduleDescription,
+            ArtifactType artifactType,
+            String expected
+    ) {
+        assertDescription(service, moduleDescription, artifactType, expected);
+    }
+
+    private static ServiceShape service(String id, String title) {
+        var builder = ServiceShape.builder().id(id).version("2024-01-01");
+        if (title != null) {
+            builder.addTrait(new TitleTrait(title));
+        }
+        return builder.build();
+    }
+
+    private static void assertDescription(
+            ServiceShape service,
+            String moduleDescription,
+            ArtifactType artifactType,
+            String expected
+    ) {
+        var model = Model.builder().addShape(service).build();
+        PythonSettings settings;
+        if (artifactType == ArtifactType.CLIENT) {
+            // Clients are configured through the plugin's settings parsing.
+            var config = ObjectNode.builder()
+                    .withMember("service", service.getId().toString())
+                    .withMember("module", "test_client")
+                    .withMember("moduleVersion", "0.0.1");
+            if (moduleDescription != null) {
+                config.withMember("moduleDescription", moduleDescription);
+            }
+            settings = PythonSettings.fromNode(config.build());
+        } else {
+            // The types plugin converts its own settings through the builder.
+            settings = PythonSettings.builder()
+                    .service(service.getId())
+                    .moduleName("test_client")
+                    .moduleVersion("0.0.1")
+                    .moduleDescription(moduleDescription)
+                    .artifactType(artifactType)
+                    .build();
+        }
+        var manifest = new MockManifest();
+        var delegator = new PythonDelegator(manifest, new PythonSymbolProvider(model, settings), settings);
+        var context = GenerationContext.builder()
+                .model(model)
+                .settings(settings)
+                .fileManifest(manifest)
+                .writerDelegator(delegator)
+                .build();
+
+        SetupGenerator.generateSetup(settings, context);
+        delegator.flushWriters();
+        String pyproject = manifest.expectFileString("pyproject.toml");
+        String readme = manifest.expectFileString("README.md");
+
+        // Both generated files carry the same resolved description.
+        assertAll(
+                () -> assertTrue(pyproject.contains("description = \"" + expected + "\"\n"), pyproject),
+                () -> assertTrue(readme.contains("\n" + expected + "\n"), readme));
+    }
 }
diff --git a/codegen/plugins/types/src/it/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/types/PythonTypeCodegenTest.java b/codegen/plugins/types/src/it/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/types/PythonTypeCodegenTest.java
index ddd37d6ea..52ef94907 100644
--- a/codegen/plugins/types/src/it/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/types/PythonTypeCodegenTest.java
+++ b/codegen/plugins/types/src/it/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/types/PythonTypeCodegenTest.java
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@
  */
 package software.amazon.smithy.python.codegen.types;
 
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertAll;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertTrue;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.nio.file.Files;
 import java.nio.file.Path;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.io.TempDir;
@@ -39,7 +44,7 @@ public void testCodegen(@TempDir Path tempDir) {
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testCodegenWithoutService(@TempDir Path tempDir) {
+    public void testCodegenWithoutService(@TempDir Path tempDir) throws IOException {
         PythonTypeCodegenPlugin plugin = new PythonTypeCodegenPlugin();
         Model model = Model.assembler(PythonTypeCodegenTest.class.getClassLoader())
                 .discoverModels(PythonTypeCodegenTest.class.getClassLoader())
@@ -55,5 +60,14 @@ public void testCodegenWithoutService(@TempDir Path tempDir) {
                 .model(model)
                 .build();
         plugin.execute(context);
+
+        // Without a selected service, describe the package by its module name rather
+        // than the internal synthetic service.
+        var expected = "Python types for types_test";
+        String pyproject = Files.readString(tempDir.resolve("pyproject.toml"));
+        String readme = Files.readString(tempDir.resolve("README.md"));
+        assertAll(
+                () -> assertTrue(pyproject.contains("description = \"" + expected + "\"\n"), pyproject),
+                () -> assertTrue(readme.contains("\n" + expected + "\n"), readme));
     }
 }
diff --git a/codegen/plugins/types/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/types/PythonTypeCodegenSettings.java b/codegen/plugins/types/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/types/PythonTypeCodegenSettings.java
index ff70f76a6..4d95cf743 100644
--- a/codegen/plugins/types/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/types/PythonTypeCodegenSettings.java
+++ b/codegen/plugins/types/src/main/java/software/amazon/smithy/python/codegen/types/PythonTypeCodegenSettings.java
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 import software.amazon.smithy.python.codegen.PythonSettings;
 import software.amazon.smithy.utils.SmithyBuilder;
 import software.amazon.smithy.utils.SmithyUnstableApi;
+import software.amazon.smithy.utils.StringUtils;
 import software.amazon.smithy.utils.ToSmithyBuilder;
 
 /**
@@ -64,11 +65,17 @@ public Builder toBuilder() {
     }
 
     public PythonSettings toPythonSettings(ShapeId service) {
+        // Without a selected service, describe the package by its module name rather
+        // than the internal synthetic service.
+        var description = moduleDescription;
+        if (this.service.isEmpty() && StringUtils.isBlank(description)) {
+            description = "Python types for " + moduleName;
+        }
         return PythonSettings.builder()
                 .service(service)
                 .moduleName(moduleName)
                 .moduleVersion(moduleVersion)
-                .moduleDescription(moduleDescription)
+                .moduleDescription(description)
                 .artifactType(PythonSettings.ArtifactType.TYPES)
                 .build();
     }