diff --git a/src/python/library/setup.py b/src/python/library/setup.py
index 0f0398ea0..1600670cf 100755
--- a/src/python/library/setup.py
+++ b/src/python/library/setup.py
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def req_file(filename, folder="requirements"):
     ],
     install_requires=install_requires,
     extras_require=extras_require,
-    packages=find_packages(),
+    packages=find_packages(exclude=["tests", "tests.*"]),
     package_data={
         "": platform_package_data,
     },
diff --git a/src/python/library/tests/test_packaging.py b/src/python/library/tests/test_packaging.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8d732386d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/python/library/tests/test_packaging.py
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+# Copyright 2026, NVIDIA CORPORATION & AFFILIATES. All rights reserved.
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+# are met:
+#  * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#  * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+#    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+#  * Neither the name of NVIDIA CORPORATION nor the names of its
+#    contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+#    from this software without specific prior written permission.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS ``AS IS'' AND ANY
+# EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+# PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
+# CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
+# EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+# PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
+# PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY
+# OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+# (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+# OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+"""Unit tests for the tritonclient Python package layout.
+
+Guards against shipping internal-only directories (e.g. ``tests``) as
+top-level packages in the wheel that ``setup.py`` produces. Runs
+``setup.py egg_info`` against the real ``setup.py`` and inspects the
+generated ``top_level.txt``, so a regression in the ``find_packages``
+call shows up as a test failure.
+"""
+
+import os
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+
+LIBRARY_DIR = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), os.pardir))
+
+
+class PackageLayoutTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    def _collect_top_level(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as egg_dir:
+            env = os.environ.copy()
+            env.setdefault("VERSION", "0.0.0dev")
+            result = subprocess.run(
+                [sys.executable, "setup.py", "egg_info", "-e", egg_dir],
+                cwd=LIBRARY_DIR,
+                env=env,
+                capture_output=True,
+                text=True,
+            )
+            self.assertEqual(
+                result.returncode,
+                0,
+                f"setup.py egg_info failed: {result.stderr}",
+            )
+            top_level = os.path.join(egg_dir, "tritonclient.egg-info", "top_level.txt")
+            with open(top_level) as f:
+                return [line.strip() for line in f if line.strip()]
+
+    def test_tests_package_not_in_top_level(self):
+        # The ``tests`` directory next to ``setup.py`` exists only to host
+        # the in-tree unit tests; it must not ship as a top-level package
+        # in the wheel published to PyPI.
+        pkgs = self._collect_top_level()
+        self.assertNotIn(
+            "tests",
+            pkgs,
+            "setup.py is exporting the in-tree 'tests' package; "
+            "exclude it via find_packages(exclude=['tests', 'tests.*']).",
+        )
+
+    def test_tritonclient_in_top_level(self):
+        # Sanity check: the exclusion must not strip out the real client
+        # packages.
+        pkgs = self._collect_top_level()
+        self.assertIn("tritonclient", pkgs)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()