diff --git a/template/MANIFEST.in b/template/MANIFEST.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..70824c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/template/MANIFEST.in
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+include CONTRIBUTING.rst
+include HISTORY.rst
+include LICENSE
+include README.md
+
+recursive-include tests *
+recursive-exclude * __pycache__
+recursive-exclude * *.py[co]
+
+recursive-include docs *.rst conf.py Makefile make.bat *.jpg *.png *.gif
diff --git a/tests/test_copier.py b/tests/test_copier.py
index 1243dac..86b92ea 100644
--- a/tests/test_copier.py
+++ b/tests/test_copier.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ def test_project_folder(default_project):
     "docs/make.bat",
     "docs/Makefile",
     "docs/readme.rst",
+    "MANIFEST.in",
 ])
 def test_generated_file_exists(default_project, file_name):
     assert default_project.project_dir.joinpath(file_name).exists()