diff --git a/lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/create_json_crew.py b/lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/create_json_crew.py
index cf84a7f1b..0e052ce9b 100644
--- a/lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/create_json_crew.py
+++ b/lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/create_json_crew.py
@@ -96,6 +96,9 @@ dependencies = [
 requires = ["hatchling"]
 build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
+[tool.hatch.build.targets.wheel]
+only-include = ["agents", "crew.jsonc", "tools", "knowledge", "skills"]
+
 [tool.crewai]
 type = "crew"
 """
diff --git a/lib/cli/tests/test_create_crew.py b/lib/cli/tests/test_create_crew.py
index bb4bc68be..44ac62558 100644
--- a/lib/cli/tests/test_create_crew.py
+++ b/lib/cli/tests/test_create_crew.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from unittest import mock
 
 import pytest
+import tomli
 from click.testing import CliRunner
 import crewai_cli.create_json_crew as json_crew
 import crewai_cli.tui_picker as tui_picker
@@ -712,6 +713,11 @@ def test_json_create_provider_preselects_default_model(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     assert not (tmp_path / "json_crew" / "tests").exists()
     assert not (tmp_path / "json_crew" / "config.jsonc").exists()
 
+    pyproject = tomli.loads((tmp_path / "json_crew" / "pyproject.toml").read_text())
+    assert pyproject["tool"]["hatch"]["build"]["targets"]["wheel"][
+        "only-include"
+    ] == ["agents", "crew.jsonc", "tools", "knowledge", "skills"]
+
     crew_template = (tmp_path / "json_crew" / "crew.jsonc").read_text()
     assert (
         '"guardrail": "Every factual claim needs context support."'