diff --git a/datafusion/proto/Cargo.toml b/datafusion/proto/Cargo.toml
index b00bd0dcc6bfd..edc96d5a94487 100644
--- a/datafusion/proto/Cargo.toml
+++ b/datafusion/proto/Cargo.toml
@@ -28,9 +28,6 @@ license = { workspace = true }
 authors = { workspace = true }
 rust-version = { workspace = true }
 
-# Exclude proto files so crates.io consumers don't need protoc
-exclude = ["*.proto"]
-
 [package.metadata.docs.rs]
 all-features = true