diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 31a3ce8..225b31f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@ Rules:
 ## Release readiness docs
 
 - `pnpm run release:check` runs build, tests, smoke, and package smoke.
-- `pnpm run package:smoke` runs `npm pack --dry-run` against the publish surface.
+- `pnpm run package:smoke` runs `npm pack --dry-run` and verifies the packed
+  CLI, source, templates, release docs, README, and license are present.
 
 - [Release readiness guide](docs/release-readiness.md)
 - [Release checklist](docs/release-checklist.md)
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 5d8c764..8cf75be 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
     "release:check": "pnpm run docs:check && pnpm run build && pnpm test && pnpm run smoke && pnpm run package:smoke",
     "test": "pnpm run build && node scripts/check-template-registry.mjs",
     "smoke": "pnpm run smoke:init",
-    "package:smoke": "npm pack --dry-run"
+    "package:smoke": "pnpm run build && node scripts/package-smoke.mjs"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "commander": "^12.1.0"
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
     "type": "git",
     "url": "git+https://github.com/rogerchappel/stackforge.git"
   },
+  "license": "MIT",
   "files": [
     "dist",
     "src",
diff --git a/scripts/package-smoke.mjs b/scripts/package-smoke.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..61c082d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/package-smoke.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
+
+const requiredFiles = [
+  'dist/index.js',
+  'src/index.ts',
+  'templates/npm-package/package.json',
+  'docs/release-readiness.md',
+  'README.md',
+  'LICENSE',
+];
+
+const result = spawnSync('npm', ['pack', '--dry-run', '--json'], {
+  encoding: 'utf8',
+  stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'pipe'],
+});
+
+if (result.status !== 0) {
+  process.stderr.write(result.stderr);
+  process.exit(result.status ?? 1);
+}
+
+const [pack] = JSON.parse(result.stdout);
+const packedFiles = new Set(pack.files.map((file) => file.path));
+const missingFiles = requiredFiles.filter((file) => !packedFiles.has(file));
+
+if (missingFiles.length > 0) {
+  console.error(`Package smoke failed; missing files: ${missingFiles.join(', ')}`);
+  process.exit(1);
+}
+
+console.log(`Package smoke passed for ${pack.filename} (${pack.files.length} files).`);