diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0423c39085..f65d6d619b 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -162,6 +162,12 @@ client-integration-test: client-setup-env ## Run client integration tests
 	@echo "Tearing down Docker Compose services..."
 	@$(DOCKER) compose -f $(PYTHON_CLIENT_DIR)/docker-compose.yml down || true # Ensure teardown even if tests fail
 
+.PHONY: client-build
+client-build: client-setup-env ## Build client distribution
+	@echo "--- Building client distribution ---"
+	@$(ACTIVATE_AND_CD) && poetry build -f wheel
+	@echo "--- Client distribution build complete ---"
+
 .PHONY: client-cleanup
 client-cleanup: ## Cleanup virtual environment and Python cache files
 	@echo "--- Cleaning up virtual environment and Python cache files ---"
diff --git a/client/python/generate_clients.py b/client/python/generate_clients.py
index da9e8fb92f..f7f967698d 100644
--- a/client/python/generate_clients.py
+++ b/client/python/generate_clients.py
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@
     Path("README.md"),
     Path("generate_clients.py"),
     Path(".venv"),
+    Path("dist/"),
 ]
 EXCLUDE_EXTENSIONS = [
     "json",
diff --git a/client/python/pyproject.toml b/client/python/pyproject.toml
index 99533ef134..b3d5129cdc 100644
--- a/client/python/pyproject.toml
+++ b/client/python/pyproject.toml
@@ -46,12 +46,9 @@ polaris = "cli.polaris_cli:main"
 
 [tool.poetry]
 requires-poetry = "==2.1.4"
-packages = [
-    { include = "polaris" },
-    { include = "cli" }
-]
 include = [
-  "polaris/**"
+    { path = "polaris/**", format = "wheel" },
+    { path = "cli/**", format = "wheel" },
 ]
 
 [tool.poetry.group.dev.dependencies]