diff --git a/plugins/ui/setup.py b/plugins/ui/setup.py
index 29b112d5b..d2d034634 100644
--- a/plugins/ui/setup.py
+++ b/plugins/ui/setup.py
@@ -1,10 +1,17 @@
 from setuptools import setup
 import os
+import shutil
 from deephaven.plugin.packaging import package_js
 
 js_dir = "src/js/"
 dest_dir = os.path.join("src/deephaven/ui/_js")
 
+# remove the build directory to ensure that the package is built from the latest js files
+try:
+    shutil.rmtree("build")
+except FileNotFoundError:
+    pass
+
 package_js(js_dir, dest_dir)
 
-setup(package_data={"deephaven.ui._js": ["**"]})
+setup()