diff --git a/MANIFEST.in b/MANIFEST.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..58d9617c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/MANIFEST.in
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+include src/hexkit/providers/s3/test_files/*.yaml
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 4f6c68fe..c024881d 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -47,6 +47,3 @@ Repository = "https://github.com/ghga-de/hexkit"
 
 [tool.setuptools.packages.find]
 where = ["src"]
-
-[tool.setuptools.package-data]
-"hexkit.providers.s3.test_files" = ["*.yaml"]