diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9700ef8..48416a7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -288,6 +288,12 @@ However, in Fedora packages, always list executables explicitly to avoid uninten
 and  language (`*.mo`) files with `%lang` macro and appropriate language code.
 Only license files declared via [PEP 639] `License-File` field are detected.
 [PEP 639] is still a draft and can be changed in the future.
+It is possible to use the `-l` flag to declare that a missing license should
+terminate the build or `-L` (the default) to explicitly disable this check.
+Packagers are encouraged to use the `-l` flag when the `%license` file is not manually listed in `%files`
+to avoid accidentally losing the file in a future version.
+When the `%license` file is manually listed in `%files`,
+packagers can use the `-L` flag to ensure future compatibility in case the `-l` behavior eventually becomes a default.
 
 Note that `%pyproject_save_files` uses data from the [RECORD file](https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0627/).
 If you wish to rename, remove or otherwise change the installed files of a package
diff --git a/macros.pyproject b/macros.pyproject
index 7013de2..81c7f29 100644
--- a/macros.pyproject
+++ b/macros.pyproject
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ fi
 # See this thread http://lists.rpm.org/pipermail/rpm-list/2021-June/002048.html
 # Since RPM 4.19, 2 signs are needed instead. 4.18.90+ is a pre-release of RPM 4.19.
 # On the CI, we build tests/escape_percentages.spec to verify the assumptions.
-%pyproject_save_files() %{expand:\\\
+%pyproject_save_files(lL) %{expand:\\\
 %{expr:v"0%{?rpmversion}" >= v"4.18.90" ? "RPM_PERCENTAGES_COUNT=2" : "RPM_PERCENTAGES_COUNT=8" } \\
 %{__python3} %{_rpmconfigdir}/redhat/pyproject_save_files.py \\
   --output-files "%{pyproject_files}" \\
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ fi
   --python-version "%{python3_version}" \\
   --pyproject-record "%{_pyproject_record}" \\
   --prefix "%{_prefix}" \\
-  %{*}
+  %{**}
 }
 
 # -t - Process only top-level modules
diff --git a/pyproject-rpm-macros.spec b/pyproject-rpm-macros.spec
index 6f54e6b..c60271f 100644
--- a/pyproject-rpm-macros.spec
+++ b/pyproject-rpm-macros.spec
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ License:        MIT
 #   Increment Y and reset Z when new macros or features are added
 #   Increment Z when this is a bugfix or a cosmetic change
 # Dropping support for EOL Fedoras is *not* considered a breaking change
-Version:        1.10.0
+Version:        1.11.0
 Release:        1%{?dist}
 
 # Macro files
@@ -171,6 +171,11 @@ export HOSTNAME="rpmbuild"  # to speedup tox in network-less mock, see rhbz#1856
 
 
 %changelog
+* Wed Sep 27 2023 Miro Hrončok <mhroncok@redhat.com> - 1.11.0-1
+- Add the -l/-L flag to %%pyproject_save_files
+- The -l flag can be used to assert at least 1 License-File was detected
+- The -L flag explicitly disables this check (which remains the default)
+
 * Wed Sep 13 2023 Python Maint <python-maint@redhat.com> - 1.10.0-1
 - Add %%_pyproject_check_import_allow_no_modules for automated environments
 - Fix handling of tox 4 provision without an explicit tox minversion
diff --git a/pyproject_save_files.py b/pyproject_save_files.py
index ec2b442..3944882 100644
--- a/pyproject_save_files.py
+++ b/pyproject_save_files.py
@@ -693,12 +693,15 @@ def dist_metadata(buildroot, record_path):
     return dist.metadata
 
 
-def pyproject_save_files_and_modules(buildroot, sitelib, sitearch, python_version, pyproject_record, prefix, varargs):
+def pyproject_save_files_and_modules(buildroot, sitelib, sitearch, python_version, pyproject_record, prefix, assert_license, varargs):
     """
     Takes arguments from the %{pyproject_save_files} macro
 
     Returns tuple: list of paths for the %files section and list of module names
     for the %check section
+
+    Raises ValueError when assert_license is true and no License-File (PEP 639)
+    is found.
     """
     # On 32 bit architectures, sitelib equals to sitearch
     # This saves us browsing one directory twice
@@ -710,11 +713,15 @@ def pyproject_save_files_and_modules(buildroot, sitelib, sitearch, python_versio
     final_file_list = []
     final_module_list = []
 
+    # we assume OK when not asserting
+    license_ok = not assert_license
+
     for record_path, files in parsed_records.items():
         metadata = dist_metadata(buildroot, record_path)
         paths_dict = classify_paths(
             record_path, files, metadata, sitedirs, python_version, prefix
         )
+        license_ok = license_ok or bool(paths_dict["metadata"]["licenses"])
 
         final_file_list.extend(
             generate_file_list(paths_dict, globs, include_auto)
@@ -723,6 +730,15 @@ def pyproject_save_files_and_modules(buildroot, sitelib, sitearch, python_versio
             generate_module_list(paths_dict, globs)
         )
 
+    if not license_ok:
+        raise ValueError(
+            "No License-File (PEP 639) in upstream metadata found. "
+            "Adjust the upstream metadata "
+            "if the project's build backend supports PEP 639 "
+            "or use `%pyproject_save_files -L` "
+            "and include the %license file in %files manually."
+        )
+
     return final_file_list, final_module_list
 
 
@@ -734,6 +750,7 @@ def main(cli_args):
         cli_args.python_version,
         cli_args.pyproject_record,
         cli_args.prefix,
+        cli_args.assert_license,
         cli_args.varargs,
     )
 
@@ -747,7 +764,7 @@ def argparser():
         prog="%pyproject_save_files",
         add_help=False,
         # custom usage to add +auto
-        usage="%(prog)s MODULE_GLOB [MODULE_GLOB ...] [+auto]",
+        usage="%(prog)s  [-l|-L] MODULE_GLOB [MODULE_GLOB ...] [+auto]",
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         '--help', action='help',
@@ -763,6 +780,14 @@ def argparser():
     r.add_argument("--python-version", type=str, required=True, help=argparse.SUPPRESS)
     r.add_argument("--pyproject-record", type=PosixPath, required=True, help=argparse.SUPPRESS)
     r.add_argument("--prefix", type=PosixPath, required=True, help=argparse.SUPPRESS)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "-l", "--assert-license", action="store_true", default=False,
+        help="Fail when no License-File (PEP 639) is found.",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "-L", "--no-assert-license", action="store_false", dest="assert_license",
+        help="Don't fail when no License-File (PEP 639) is found (the default).",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "varargs", nargs="+", metavar="MODULE_GLOB",
         help="Shell-like glob matching top-level module names to save into %%{pyproject_files}",
diff --git a/tests/escape_percentages.spec b/tests/escape_percentages.spec
index 6466b2f..e0592a6 100644
--- a/tests/escape_percentages.spec
+++ b/tests/escape_percentages.spec
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ touch 'escape_percentages/one%%version'
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files escape_percentages
+%pyproject_save_files -L escape_percentages
 touch '%{buildroot}/two%%version'
 
 
diff --git a/tests/printrun.spec b/tests/printrun.spec
index abca9e1..96a9caa 100644
--- a/tests/printrun.spec
+++ b/tests/printrun.spec
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ Building this tests that lang files are marked with %%lang in filelist.
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files printrun +auto
+%pyproject_save_files -l printrun +auto
 
 
 %check
@@ -52,4 +52,3 @@ grep -E '/printrun/__pycache__$' %{pyproject_files}
 
 %files -f %{pyproject_files}
 %doc README*
-%license COPYING
diff --git a/tests/python-distroinfo.spec b/tests/python-distroinfo.spec
index 7303eca..e754324 100644
--- a/tests/python-distroinfo.spec
+++ b/tests/python-distroinfo.spec
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ sed -Ei "s/(, )?'pytest-runner'//" setup.py
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files distroinfo
+%pyproject_save_files -l distroinfo
 
 
 %check
@@ -52,4 +52,3 @@ sed -Ei "s/(, )?'pytest-runner'//" setup.py
 
 %files -n python3-distroinfo -f %{pyproject_files}
 %doc README.rst AUTHORS
-%license LICENSE
diff --git a/tests/python-django.spec b/tests/python-django.spec
index e6488db..74f6d72 100644
--- a/tests/python-django.spec
+++ b/tests/python-django.spec
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ find -name "*.po" | xargs rm -f
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files django
+%pyproject_save_files -l django
 
 
 %check
@@ -56,6 +56,5 @@ diff tested.lang expected.lang
 
 %files -n python3-django -f %{pyproject_files}
 %doc README.rst
-%license LICENSE
 %{_bindir}/django-admin
 %{_bindir}/django-admin.py
diff --git a/tests/python-dns-lexicon.spec b/tests/python-dns-lexicon.spec
index b9f5ca1..512baee 100644
--- a/tests/python-dns-lexicon.spec
+++ b/tests/python-dns-lexicon.spec
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ sed -i \
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files lexicon
+# the license is not marked as License-File by poetry-core, hence -L
+%pyproject_save_files -L lexicon
 
 
 %check
diff --git a/tests/python-entrypoints.spec b/tests/python-entrypoints.spec
index 95e7791..15c518e 100644
--- a/tests/python-entrypoints.spec
+++ b/tests/python-entrypoints.spec
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ Summary:        %{summary}
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files entrypoints
+# the license is not marked as License-File, hence -L
+%pyproject_save_files entrypoints -L
 
 
 %check
diff --git a/tests/python-flit-core.spec b/tests/python-flit-core.spec
index d20d2c2..e6831dc 100644
--- a/tests/python-flit-core.spec
+++ b/tests/python-flit-core.spec
@@ -42,7 +42,13 @@ cd ..
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
+# there is no license file marked as License-File, hence not using -l
 %pyproject_save_files flit_core
 
 
+%check
+# internal check for our macros, we assume there is no license
+grep -F %%license %{pyproject_files} && exit 1 || true
+
+
 %files -n python3-flit-core -f %{pyproject_files}
diff --git a/tests/python-getmac.spec b/tests/python-getmac.spec
index 61863c8..6010d82 100644
--- a/tests/python-getmac.spec
+++ b/tests/python-getmac.spec
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ Summary:        %{summary}
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files '*' +auto
+%pyproject_save_files -l '*' +auto
 
 
 %check
diff --git a/tests/python-httpbin.spec b/tests/python-httpbin.spec
index 15d2d8e..9e0609a 100644
--- a/tests/python-httpbin.spec
+++ b/tests/python-httpbin.spec
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ sed -Ei 's/\bdef (test_(relative_)?redirect_(to_post|n_(equals_to|higher_than)_1
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files httpbin
+%pyproject_save_files -l httpbin
 
 
 %if %{with tests}
@@ -72,4 +72,3 @@ sed -Ei 's/\bdef (test_(relative_)?redirect_(to_post|n_(equals_to|higher_than)_1
 
 %files -n python3-httpbin -f %{pyproject_files}
 %doc README*
-%license LICENSE*
diff --git a/tests/python-ipykernel.spec b/tests/python-ipykernel.spec
index abeceac..133d8bb 100644
--- a/tests/python-ipykernel.spec
+++ b/tests/python-ipykernel.spec
@@ -46,12 +46,11 @@ sed -i '/"debugpy/d' pyproject.toml setup.py
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files 'ipykernel*' +auto
+%pyproject_save_files -l 'ipykernel*' +auto
 
 %check
 %pyproject_check_import  -e '*.test*' -e 'ipykernel.gui*' -e 'ipykernel.pylab.*' -e 'ipykernel.trio*'
 
 %files -n python3-ipykernel -f %{pyproject_files}
-%license COPYING.md
 %doc README.md
 
diff --git a/tests/python-isort.spec b/tests/python-isort.spec
index cde9156..9124d73 100644
--- a/tests/python-isort.spec
+++ b/tests/python-isort.spec
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ Summary:            %{summary}
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files isort
+%pyproject_save_files -l isort
 
 
 %check
@@ -55,5 +55,4 @@ grep -F %{_bindir}/%{modname} %{pyproject_files} && exit 1 || true
 
 %files -n python%{python3_pkgversion}-%{modname} -f %{pyproject_files}
 %doc README.rst *.md
-%license LICENSE
 %{_bindir}/%{modname}
diff --git a/tests/python-ldap.spec b/tests/python-ldap.spec
index 9f6da1e..d36029b 100644
--- a/tests/python-ldap.spec
+++ b/tests/python-ldap.spec
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ PYTHONPATH=%{pyproject_build_lib} %{python3} -c 'import _ldap'
 %install
 %pyproject_install
 # We can pass multiple globs
-%pyproject_save_files 'ldap*' '*ldap'
+%pyproject_save_files -l 'ldap*' '*ldap'
 
 
 %check
@@ -104,7 +104,6 @@ test "%{pyproject_build_lib}" == "%{_builddir}/%{buildsubdir}/build/lib.%{python
 
 
 %files -n python3-ldap -f %{pyproject_files}
-%license LICENCE
 %doc CHANGES README TODO Demo
 # Explicitly listed files can be combined with automation
 %pycached %{python3_sitearch}/ldif.py
diff --git a/tests/python-markupsafe.spec b/tests/python-markupsafe.spec
index f6c7310..756d508 100644
--- a/tests/python-markupsafe.spec
+++ b/tests/python-markupsafe.spec
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ Summary:        %{summary}
 
 # In this spec, we put %%files early to test it still works
 %files -n python3-markupsafe -f %{pyproject_files}
-%license LICENSE.rst
 %doc CHANGES.rst README.rst
 
 
@@ -54,7 +53,7 @@ sed -Ei 's/sphinx\.git@([0-9a-f]+)/sphinx.git@\1#egg=sphinx/' requirements/docs.
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files markupsafe
+%pyproject_save_files -l markupsafe
 
 
 %check
diff --git a/tests/python-mistune.spec b/tests/python-mistune.spec
index dfbf26f..94f0c5a 100644
--- a/tests/python-mistune.spec
+++ b/tests/python-mistune.spec
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Summary:        %summary
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files mistune
+%pyproject_save_files -l mistune
 
 
 %check
@@ -61,4 +61,3 @@ test -f %{buildroot}%{python3_sitearch}/mistune.cpython-*.so
 
 %files -n python%{python3_pkgversion}-mistune -f %{pyproject_files}
 %doc README.rst
-%license LICENSE
diff --git a/tests/python-openqa_client.spec b/tests/python-openqa_client.spec
index fdf903d..ef6ac46 100644
--- a/tests/python-openqa_client.spec
+++ b/tests/python-openqa_client.spec
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ sed -i '/mock/d' tests.requires
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files %{pypi_name}
+%pyproject_save_files -l %{pypi_name}
 
 
 %check
@@ -54,4 +54,3 @@ sed -i '/mock/d' tests.requires
 
 %files -n python3-%{pypi_name} -f %{pyproject_files}
 %doc README.*
-%license COPYING
diff --git a/tests/python-pluggy.spec b/tests/python-pluggy.spec
index 4bbdd50..10f422a 100644
--- a/tests/python-pluggy.spec
+++ b/tests/python-pluggy.spec
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ Summary:        %{summary}
 %install
 %pyproject_install
 # There are no executables, but we are allowed to pass +auto anyway
-%pyproject_save_files pluggy +auto
+%pyproject_save_files pluggy +auto -l
 
 
 %check
@@ -52,4 +52,3 @@ Summary:        %{summary}
 
 %files -n python3-%{pypi_name} -f %{pyproject_files}
 %doc README.rst
-%license LICENSE
diff --git a/tests/python-poetry-core.spec b/tests/python-poetry-core.spec
index 570a229..f133a7b 100644
--- a/tests/python-poetry-core.spec
+++ b/tests/python-poetry-core.spec
@@ -37,8 +37,11 @@ Summary:        %{summary}
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files poetry
+# the license is not marked as License-File by poetry-core, hence -L
+%pyproject_save_files -L poetry
 
+# internal check for our macros, -l must fail:
+%pyproject_save_files -l poetry && exit 1 || true
 
 %files -n python3-poetry-core -f %{pyproject_files}
 %doc README.md
diff --git a/tests/python-pytest.spec b/tests/python-pytest.spec
index 2e48871..67725a4 100644
--- a/tests/python-pytest.spec
+++ b/tests/python-pytest.spec
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ sed -i 's/setuptools-scm\[toml\]>=6.2.3/setuptools-scm[toml]>=5/' pyproject.toml
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files '*pytest' +auto
+%pyproject_save_files -l '*pytest' +auto
 
 
 %check
@@ -70,4 +70,3 @@ sed -i 's/setuptools-scm\[toml\]>=6.2.3/setuptools-scm[toml]>=5/' pyproject.toml
 %files -n python3-%{pypi_name} -f %{pyproject_files}
 %doc README.rst
 %doc CHANGELOG.rst
-%license LICENSE
diff --git a/tests/python-setuptools.spec b/tests/python-setuptools.spec
index 688a867..76f11aa 100644
--- a/tests/python-setuptools.spec
+++ b/tests/python-setuptools.spec
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ sed -i pytest.ini -e 's/ --flake8//' \
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files setuptools pkg_resources _distutils_hack
+%pyproject_save_files setuptools pkg_resources _distutils_hack -l
 
 # https://github.com/pypa/setuptools/issues/2709
 rm -rf %{buildroot}%{python3_sitelib}/pkg_resources/tests/
diff --git a/tests/python-setuptools_scm.spec b/tests/python-setuptools_scm.spec
index 394d732..3622b18 100644
--- a/tests/python-setuptools_scm.spec
+++ b/tests/python-setuptools_scm.spec
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ Summary:        %{summary}
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files setuptools_scm
+%pyproject_save_files -l setuptools_scm
 
 
 %check
@@ -73,4 +73,3 @@ test "$(cat %{_pyproject_ghost_distinfo})" == "%ghost %{python3_sitelib}/setupto
 %files -n python3-setuptools_scm -f %{pyproject_files}
 %doc README.rst
 %doc CHANGELOG.rst
-%license LICENSE
diff --git a/tests/python-userpath.spec b/tests/python-userpath.spec
index 69ca8ab..1151432 100644
--- a/tests/python-userpath.spec
+++ b/tests/python-userpath.spec
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ sed -Ei '/^(coverage)$/d' requirements-dev.txt
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files userpath
+%pyproject_save_files -l userpath
 
 
 %check
diff --git a/tests/python-virtualenv.spec b/tests/python-virtualenv.spec
index 933cf84..a273b74 100644
--- a/tests/python-virtualenv.spec
+++ b/tests/python-virtualenv.spec
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ sed -i 's/_nonwrappers/_hookimpls/' tests/conftest.py
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files virtualenv
+%pyproject_save_files -l virtualenv
 %{?el9:
 # old version of setuptools_scm produces files incompatible with
 # assumptions in virtualenv code, we append the expected attributes:
diff --git a/tests/python-zope-event.spec b/tests/python-zope-event.spec
index 5fc840f..4a5d4dd 100644
--- a/tests/python-zope-event.spec
+++ b/tests/python-zope-event.spec
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ Summary:       %{summary}
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files zope +auto
+%pyproject_save_files -l zope +auto
 
 %check
 # Internal check that the RECORD and REQUESTED files are
@@ -42,5 +42,4 @@ test ! $(find %{buildroot}%{python3_sitelib}/ | grep -E "\.dist-info/REQUESTED$"
 
 %files -n python3-zope-event -f %{pyproject_files}
 %doc README.rst
-%license LICENSE.txt
 
diff --git a/tests/tldr.spec b/tests/tldr.spec
index 6b24d5d..7152642 100644
--- a/tests/tldr.spec
+++ b/tests/tldr.spec
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Building this tests:
 
 %install
 %pyproject_install
-%pyproject_save_files tldr +auto
+%pyproject_save_files -l tldr +auto
 
 %check
 # Internal check for our macros: tests we don't ship __pycache__ in bindir
@@ -62,5 +62,4 @@ grep '^/app' %{pyproject_files}
 %endif
 
 %files -f %pyproject_files
-%license LICENSE
 %doc README.md