diff --git a/helics_apps-pip/pyproject.toml b/helics_apps-pip/pyproject.toml
index 50985ca..366cb36 100644
--- a/helics_apps-pip/pyproject.toml
+++ b/helics_apps-pip/pyproject.toml
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ wheel.py-api = "py2.py3"
 wheel.expand-macos-universal-tags = true
 metadata.version.provider = "scikit_build_core.metadata.setuptools_scm"
 sdist.include = ["helics_apps/_version.py"]
+sdist.exclude = ["build"]
 sdist.cmake = true
 
 [tool.setuptools_scm]  # Section required