diff --git a/qgispluginci/release.py b/qgispluginci/release.py
index f916659f..492c6d0f 100644
--- a/qgispluginci/release.py
+++ b/qgispluginci/release.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import logging
 import os
 import re
+import shutil
 import sys
 import tarfile
 import xmlrpc.client
@@ -193,6 +194,16 @@ def create_archive(
                         continue
                     tt.add(m.name)
 
+    # add LICENSE if not already in plugin path but available in its parent
+    parent_folder_license_copied = False
+    if not Path(f"{parameters.plugin_path}/LICENSE").is_file():
+        parent_license = Path(f"{parameters.plugin_path}/../LICENSE")
+        if parent_license.is_file():
+            shutil.copy(parent_license, f"{parameters.plugin_path}/LICENSE")
+            parent_folder_license_copied = True
+            with tarfile.open(top_tar_file, mode="a") as tt:
+                tt.add(f"{parameters.plugin_path}/LICENSE")
+
     # add translation files
     if add_translations:
         with tarfile.open(top_tar_file, mode="a") as tt:
@@ -265,6 +276,9 @@ def create_archive(
                 info.compress_type = zf.compression
                 zf.writestr(info, fl)
 
+    if parent_folder_license_copied:
+        Path(f"{parameters.plugin_path}/LICENSE").unlink()
+
     logger.debug("-" * 40)
     logger.debug(f"Files in ZIP archive ({archive_name}):")
     with zipfile.ZipFile(file=archive_name, mode="r") as zf:
diff --git a/test/test_release.py b/test/test_release.py
index 3b14556e..98d099d8 100755
--- a/test/test_release.py
+++ b/test/test_release.py
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
 import yaml
 from github import Github, GithubException
 
+# Tests
+from utils import can_skip_test_github
+
 # Project
 from qgispluginci.changelog import ChangelogParser
 from qgispluginci.exceptions import GithubReleaseNotFound
@@ -24,9 +27,6 @@
 from qgispluginci.translation import Translation
 from qgispluginci.utils import replace_in_file
 
-# Tests
-from .utils import can_skip_test_github
-
 # If changed, also update CHANGELOG.md
 RELEASE_VERSION_TEST = "0.1.2"
 
@@ -196,6 +196,7 @@ def test_release_changelog(self):
         # open archive and compare
         with ZipFile(archive_name, "r") as zip_file:
             data = zip_file.read(f"{parameters.plugin_path}/metadata.txt")
+            license_data = zip_file.read(f"{parameters.plugin_path}/LICENSE")
 
         # Changelog
         self.assertGreater(
@@ -204,6 +205,13 @@ def test_release_changelog(self):
             f"changelog detection failed in release: {data}",
         )
 
+        # License
+        self.assertGreater(
+            license_data.find(bytes("GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE", "utf8")),
+            0,
+            "license file content mismatch",
+        )
+
         # Commit number
         self.assertEqual(1, len(re.findall(r"commitNumber=\d+", str(data))))