diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-hatch.yml b/.github/workflows/build-hatch.yml
index ecd328094..fb326a98a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-hatch.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-hatch.yml
@@ -48,7 +48,10 @@ jobs:
       uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v3
 
     - name: Install tools
-      run: uv pip install --system build hatch
+      run: |-
+        uv pip install --system build
+        uv pip install --system .
+        uv pip install --system ./backend
 
     # Windows installers don't accept non-integer versions so we ubiquitously
     # perform the following transformation: X.Y.Z.devN -> X.Y.Z.N
diff --git a/backend/src/hatchling/dep/__init__.py b/backend/src/hatchling/dep/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/backend/src/hatchling/dep/core.py b/backend/src/hatchling/dep/core.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a986a1e02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/hatchling/dep/core.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from hatchling.cli.dep.core import dependencies_in_sync  # noqa: F401
diff --git a/backend/src/hatchling/metadata/core.py b/backend/src/hatchling/metadata/core.py
index 23bba1905..88ed55775 100644
--- a/backend/src/hatchling/metadata/core.py
+++ b/backend/src/hatchling/metadata/core.py
@@ -742,6 +742,9 @@ def license_files(self) -> list[str]:
                         'listed in field `project.dynamic`'
                     )
                     raise ValueError(message)
+
+                if isinstance(globs, dict):
+                    globs = globs.get('globs', globs.get('paths', []))
             else:
                 globs = ['LICEN[CS]E*', 'COPYING*', 'NOTICE*', 'AUTHORS*']
 
diff --git a/docs/config/metadata.md b/docs/config/metadata.md
index 71533e66a..c7b415792 100644
--- a/docs/config/metadata.md
+++ b/docs/config/metadata.md
@@ -113,21 +113,11 @@ For more information, see [PEP 639][].
 
     === "Files"
 
-        === "Paths"
-
-            ```toml
-            [project]
-            ...
-            license-files = { paths = ["LICENSE.txt"] }
-            ```
-
-        === "Globs"
-
-            ```toml
-            [project]
-            ...
-            license-files = { globs = ["LICENSES/*"] }
-            ```
+        ```toml
+        [project]
+        ...
+        license-files = ["LICENSES/*"]
+        ```
 
 ## Ownership
 
diff --git a/docs/history/hatchling.md b/docs/history/hatchling.md
index 8e3bd4920..095238455 100644
--- a/docs/history/hatchling.md
+++ b/docs/history/hatchling.md
@@ -8,8 +8,17 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+***Fixed:***
+
+- Add backward compatibility for the old `license-files` metadata field
+- Support an old import path that is still used by some consumers like Hatch
+
 ## [1.26.0](https://github.com/pypa/hatch/releases/tag/hatchling-v1.26.0) - 2024-11-10 ## {: #hatchling-v1.26.0 }
 
+***Changed:***
+
+- The `license-files` metadata field has been updated to the latest spec and is now just an array of glob patterns
+
 ***Added:***
 
 - Support version 2.4 of core metadata for the `wheel` and `sdist` targets