diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index d0b8f1f9..8f412a68 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
           python-version: "3.11"
+      - name: Copy LICENSE into package
+        run: cp LICENSE packages/${{ needs.determine-package.outputs.package }}/LICENSE
       - name: Build package
         run: pip install build && python -m build packages/${{ needs.determine-package.outputs.package }}
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
diff --git a/packages/essimaging/pyproject.toml b/packages/essimaging/pyproject.toml
index c38d3a56..81cb840b 100644
--- a/packages/essimaging/pyproject.toml
+++ b/packages/essimaging/pyproject.toml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ name = "essimaging"
 description = "Imaging data reduction for the European Spallation Source"
 authors = [{ name = "Scipp contributors" }]
 license = "BSD-3-Clause"
-license-files = ["../../LICENSE"]
 readme = "README.md"
 classifiers = [
     "Intended Audience :: Science/Research",
diff --git a/packages/essreduce/pyproject.toml b/packages/essreduce/pyproject.toml
index 430aa38e..7f0c7600 100644
--- a/packages/essreduce/pyproject.toml
+++ b/packages/essreduce/pyproject.toml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ name = "essreduce"
 description = "Common data reduction tools for the ESS facility"
 authors = [{ name = "Scipp contributors" }]
 license = "BSD-3-Clause"
-license-files = ["../../LICENSE"]
 readme = "README.md"
 classifiers = [
     "Intended Audience :: Science/Research",