diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/package-data.py b/test/sanity/code-smell/package-data.py
index 3ee4165c149..12f8d1f90d8 100755
--- a/test/sanity/code-smell/package-data.py
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/package-data.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ def assemble_files_to_ship(complete_file_list):
         '.github/*',
         '.github/*/*',
         'changelogs/fragments/*',
+        'hacking/backport/*',
         'hacking/shippable/*',
         'hacking/tests/*',
         'hacking/ticket_stubs/*',