diff --git a/MANIFEST.in b/MANIFEST.in
index 9ddbf2d5c..5e7467834 100644
--- a/MANIFEST.in
+++ b/MANIFEST.in
@@ -5,3 +5,11 @@ include LICENSE
 # versioneer
 include versioneer.py
 include fmriprep/_version.py
+
+# package data
+include data/*.json
+include data/*.nii.gz
+include data/*.mat
+include data/boilerplate.bib
+include data/itkIdentityTransform.txt
+include data/flirtsch/bbr.sch
diff --git a/fmriprep/data/__init__.py b/fmriprep/data/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb..000000000
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 6e8ef77fb..7245942b3 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -73,13 +73,6 @@ all =
 
 [options.package_data]
 fmriprep =
-    data/*.json
-    data/*.nii.gz
-    data/*.mat
-    data/boilerplate.bib
-    data/itkIdentityTransform.txt
-    data/flirtsch/bbr.sch
-    data/reports-spec.yml
     VERSION
 
 [options.entry_points]