diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/ironic-cfg-defaults-4708eed8adeee609.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/ironic-cfg-defaults-4708eed8adeee609.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2e0b28ac57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/ironic-cfg-defaults-4708eed8adeee609.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+other:
+  - |
+    The default rootwrap configuration files are now included when
+    building the ironic python package. The files are included in
+    the path ``etc/ironic`` relative to the root of where ironic
+    is installed.
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 268571b855..6c32425356 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ classifier =
     Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7
 
 [files]
+data_files =
+    etc/ironic =
+        etc/ironic/rootwrap.conf
+    etc/ironic/rootwrap.d = etc/ironic/rootwrap.d/*
 packages =
     ironic
     ironic_tempest_plugin