diff --git a/python/tests/Makefile.am b/python/tests/Makefile.am
index 490b272aa7..40098b1021 100644
--- a/python/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/python/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 #
 # Copyright 2023 the Pacemaker project contributors
 #
 # The version control history for this file may have further details.
 #
 # This source code is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2
 # or later (GPLv2+) WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY.
 #
 
 MAINTAINERCLEANFILES    = Makefile.in
 
-EXTRA_DIST = $(wildcard test_*)
+EXTRA_DIST = $(wildcard test_*) __init__.py
diff --git a/python/tests/__init__.py b/python/tests/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2