diff --git a/MANIFEST.in b/MANIFEST.in
index 33f21da..43f7f04 100644
--- a/MANIFEST.in
+++ b/MANIFEST.in
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
-include README.md MANIFEST.in setup.py .gitignore
-recursive-include idlbridge *.py *.pyx *.pxd *.pxi *.pro VERSION
-recursive-include dev *
+# include cython files
+recursive-include idlbridge *.py *.pyx *.pxd *.pxi
+# exclude C files generated by cython, this is now recommended:
+# https://cython.readthedocs.io/en/latest/src/userguide/source_files_and_compilation.html#distributing-cython-modules
+recursive-exclude idlbridge *.c