diff --git a/package-build.el b/package-build.el
index 68be0c9e..d851e2f2 100644
--- a/package-build.el
+++ b/package-build.el
@@ -725,7 +725,8 @@ FILES is a list of (SOURCE . DEST) relative filepath pairs."
           (when (file-exists-p pkg-target)
             (delete-file pkg-target t))
           (copy-file pkg-source pkg-target)
-          (let ((enable-local-variables :safe))
+          (let ((enable-local-variables :safe)
+                (make-backup-files nil))
             (with-current-buffer (find-file pkg-target)
               (pb/update-or-insert-version version)
               (pb/ensure-ends-here-line pkg-source)