diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 7afb358..6dfff94 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@ requires-python = ">=3.10"
 # declaring them here would make pip pull the generic CUDA torch over the top.
 dependencies = []
 authors = [{ name = "Your Name", email = "your.email@example.com" }]
-license = "Apache-2.0"
-license-files = ["LICENSE"]
+# Table form on purpose: the SPDX string (PEP 639) needs setuptools>=77, but
+# the deb build uses the distribution's python3-setuptools (68 on Ubuntu
+# 24.04), which rejects it. setuptools picks LICENSE up by default.
+license = { text = "Apache-2.0" }
 classifiers = [
     "Development Status :: 4 - Beta",
     "Intended Audience :: Developers",
diff --git a/tests/ci/test_packaging_metadata.py b/tests/ci/test_packaging_metadata.py
index a0d4537..9521aca 100644
--- a/tests/ci/test_packaging_metadata.py
+++ b/tests/ci/test_packaging_metadata.py
@@ -79,9 +79,11 @@ def test_python_requires_matches_metadata():
 
 
 def test_license_metadata_is_apache_2():
+    # The table form is the one every setuptools in the packaging targets
+    # accepts (ubuntu 24.04 ships 68, openEuler 24.03 ships 65); the PEP 639
+    # string form needs setuptools >= 77 and is rejected below that.
     pyproject = _read_text("pyproject.toml")
-    assert 'license = "Apache-2.0"' in pyproject
-    assert 'license-files = ["LICENSE"]' in pyproject
+    assert 'license = { text = "Apache-2.0" }' in pyproject
     assert "Apache (Version 2.0)" in _read_text("README.md")