diff --git a/setup.cfg.template b/setup.cfg.template
index 09fd92f7134e..9d50b4441582 100644
--- a/setup.cfg.template
+++ b/setup.cfg.template
@@ -83,3 +83,9 @@
 #
 #backend = Agg
 #
+
+[package_data]
+# Package additional files found in the lib/matplotlib directories.
+#
+# On Windows, package DLL files.
+#dlls = True
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index b896f6f84c11..392ed2c8c28b 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -110,7 +110,9 @@
     setupext.DviPng(),
     setupext.Ghostscript(),
     setupext.LaTeX(),
-    setupext.PdfToPs()
+    setupext.PdfToPs(),
+    'Optional package data',
+    setupext.Dlls(),
     ]
 
 
diff --git a/setupext.py b/setupext.py
index 3011bf9e9834..33b4a5c30f58 100755
--- a/setupext.py
+++ b/setupext.py
@@ -2165,3 +2165,34 @@ def check(self):
             pass
 
         raise CheckFailed()
+
+
+class OptionalPackageData(OptionalPackage):
+    config_category = "package_data"
+
+
+class Dlls(OptionalPackageData):
+    """
+    On Windows, this packages any DLL files that can be found in the
+    lib/matplotlib/* directories.
+    """
+    name = "dlls"
+
+    def check_requirements(self):
+        if sys.platform != 'win32':
+            raise CheckFailed("Microsoft Windows only")
+
+    def get_package_data(self):
+        return {'': ['*.dll']}
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_config(cls):
+        """
+        Look at `setup.cfg` and return one of ["auto", True, False] indicating
+        if the package is at default state ("auto"), forced by the user (True)
+        or opted-out (False).
+        """
+        try:
+            return config.getboolean(cls.config_category, cls.name)
+        except:
+            return False  # <-- default