diff --git a/MANIFEST.in b/MANIFEST.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d0daabd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/MANIFEST.in
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+include openevolve/prompts/defaults/*.txt
+include openevolve/prompts/defaults/*.json
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/openevolve/_version.py b/openevolve/_version.py
index 97cc3b8e..6c7d6089 100644
--- a/openevolve/_version.py
+++ b/openevolve/_version.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 """Version information for openevolve package."""
 
-__version__ = "0.2.6"
+__version__ = "0.2.7"
diff --git a/openevolve/prompt/templates.py b/openevolve/prompt/templates.py
index 9ff03240..291435b4 100644
--- a/openevolve/prompt/templates.py
+++ b/openevolve/prompt/templates.py
@@ -187,9 +187,6 @@ def __init__(self, custom_template_dir: Optional[str] = None):
         # 2. Override with custom templates (if provided)
         if self.custom_dir and self.custom_dir.exists():
             self._load_from_directory(self.custom_dir)
-        
-        # 3. Minimal hardcoded fallbacks (for safety/compatibility)
-        self._ensure_minimal_templates()
 
     def _load_from_directory(self, directory: Path) -> None:
         """Load all templates and fragments from a directory"""
@@ -208,23 +205,6 @@ def _load_from_directory(self, directory: Path) -> None:
             with open(fragments_file, 'r') as f:
                 loaded_fragments = json.load(f)
                 self.fragments.update(loaded_fragments)
-    
-    def _ensure_minimal_templates(self) -> None:
-        """Ensure critical templates exist (backward compatibility)"""
-        if "system_message" not in self.templates:
-            self.templates["system_message"] = "You are an AI assistant helping with code evolution."
-        if "diff_user" not in self.templates:
-            self.templates["diff_user"] = "# Task\nImprove the program:\n```\n{current_program}\n```"
-        if "full_rewrite_user" not in self.templates:
-            self.templates["full_rewrite_user"] = "# Task\nRewrite the program:\n```\n{current_program}\n```"
-        
-        # Ensure critical fragments exist
-        if "fitness_improved" not in self.fragments:
-            self.fragments["fitness_improved"] = "Fitness improved: {prev} → {current}"
-        if "fitness_declined" not in self.fragments:
-            self.fragments["fitness_declined"] = "Fitness declined: {prev} → {current}"
-        if "no_specific_guidance" not in self.fragments:
-            self.fragments["no_specific_guidance"] = "Focus on improving fitness while maintaining diversity"
 
     def get_template(self, name: str) -> str:
         """Get a template by name"""
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 8114c8ec..3b8c954a 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -50,5 +50,8 @@ openevolve-run = "openevolve.cli:main"
 [tool.setuptools.packages.find]
 include = ["openevolve*"]
 
+[tool.setuptools.package-data]
+openevolve = ["prompts/defaults/*.txt", "prompts/defaults/*.json"]
+
 [tool.setuptools.dynamic]
 version = {attr = "openevolve._version.__version__"}