diff --git a/packaging/windows/package.ps1 b/packaging/windows/package.ps1
index 0d156aca..8cb76f11 100644
--- a/packaging/windows/package.ps1
+++ b/packaging/windows/package.ps1
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ Invoke-Native 'wix build' {
     -d "Version=$MsiVersion" -d "BinDir=$Stage" -d "IconPath=$(Join-Path $Root 'assets\app-icon\photocraft.ico')" `
     -o $Msi
 }
+# wix writes its debug symbols (.wixpdb) next to the MSI; keep them out of the release assets.
+Remove-Item -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue ([IO.Path]::ChangeExtension($Msi, '.wixpdb'))
 & (Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'sign.ps1') $Msi
 
 # ---- portable zip ------------------------------------------------------------------------------