diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index e585c227..f8874486 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ python:
 install:
 - pip install -r requirements.dev.txt
 - pip install --upgrade .
+# see #337: flag potential twine issues before attempting to upload to PyPI
+- python setup.py sdist
+- python setup.py bdist_wheel
+- twine check dist/*
 script:
 - tox
 notifications:
diff --git a/requirements.dev.txt b/requirements.dev.txt
index 5c8a38d9..f5354e4a 100644
--- a/requirements.dev.txt
+++ b/requirements.dev.txt
@@ -7,3 +7,5 @@ sphinx==2.4.4
 sphinx-autodoc-typehints==1.10.3
 solar-theme==1.3.3
 coveralls==1.8.2
+twine==3.1.1
+wheel==0.34.2
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 773bf939..b3f6d417 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ author = Christopher Timperley
 author-email = christimperley@googlemail.com
 url = https://github.com/ChrisTimperley/roswire
 description = An API for testing and mutating Dockerised ROS systems.
-long-description = file: README.md, LICENSE
+long-description = file: README.rst, LICENSE
 keywords = ros, docker, testing, analysis, mutation, repair
 license = Apache License, Version 2.0
 classifiers =