diff --git a/MANIFEST.in b/MANIFEST.in
index 1e49636c11..d476c8d8ed 100644
--- a/MANIFEST.in
+++ b/MANIFEST.in
@@ -4,8 +4,9 @@ include NEWS.rst
 include LICENSE
 include README.rst
 
-recursive-include tests *
+recursive-exclude tests *
 recursive-exclude * __pycache__
 recursive-exclude * *.py[co]
 
 recursive-include docs *.rst conf.py *.jpg *.png *.gif
+