diff --git a/CIME/templates/__init__.py b/CIME/templates/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 87b8ddc61ad..d910255e0c6 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ exclude = CIME.tests*
 [options.package_data]
 CIME = config/*,config/**/*,config/**/**/*,config/**/**/**/*
 CIME.Tools = *
+CIME.templates = *
 
 [options.entry_points]
 console_scripts =