diff --git a/conda_smithy/linter/utils.py b/conda_smithy/linter/utils.py
index 9745b48be..9c87e24cd 100644
--- a/conda_smithy/linter/utils.py
+++ b/conda_smithy/linter/utils.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
     "pymsbuild",
     "meson-python",
     "scikit-build-core",
+    "sphinx-theme-builder",
     "maturin",
     "jupyter_packaging",
     "whey",
diff --git a/news/pr-2204-sphinx-build-backend.rst b/news/pr-2204-sphinx-build-backend.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0059f6a27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/pr-2204-sphinx-build-backend.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+**Added:**
+
+* Added ``sphinx-theme-builder`` as a valid ``pip`` build backend. (#2204)