diff --git a/makepanda/makepanda.py b/makepanda/makepanda.py
index ccd3d30bd0..4234eede0b 100755
--- a/makepanda/makepanda.py
+++ b/makepanda/makepanda.py
@@ -367,7 +367,8 @@ if VERSION is None:
     if RUNTIME:
         VERSION = PLUGIN_VERSION
     else:
-        VERSION = ParsePandaVersion("dtool/PandaVersion.pp")
+        # Take the value from the setup.cfg file.
+        VERSION = GetMetadataValue('version')
 
 if WHLVERSION is None:
     WHLVERSION = VERSION
diff --git a/makepanda/makepandacore.py b/makepanda/makepandacore.py
index 6705c72a1f..3936920ef9 100644
--- a/makepanda/makepandacore.py
+++ b/makepanda/makepandacore.py
@@ -12,9 +12,11 @@ from distutils import sysconfig
 if sys.version_info >= (3, 0):
     import pickle
     import _thread as thread
+    import configparser
 else:
     import cPickle as pickle
     import thread
+    import ConfigParser as configparser
 
 SUFFIX_INC = [".cxx",".cpp",".c",".h",".I",".yxx",".lxx",".mm",".rc",".r"]
 SUFFIX_DLL = [".dll",".dlo",".dle",".dli",".dlm",".mll",".exe",".pyd",".ocx"]
@@ -2849,6 +2851,21 @@ def CopyPythonTree(dstdir, srcdir, lib2to3_fixers=[], threads=0):
 ##
 ########################################################################
 
+cfg_parser = None
+
+def GetMetadataValue(key):
+    global cfg_parser
+    if not cfg_parser:
+        # Parse the metadata from the setup.cfg file.
+        cfg_parser = configparser.ConfigParser()
+        cfg_parser.read('setup.cfg')
+
+    value = cfg_parser.get('metadata', key)
+    if key == 'classifiers':
+        value = value.strip().split('\n')
+    return value
+
+# This function is being phased out.
 def ParsePandaVersion(fn):
     try:
         f = open(fn, "r")
diff --git a/makepanda/makewheel.py b/makepanda/makewheel.py
index 71ec67a269..ab3375e708 100644
--- a/makepanda/makewheel.py
+++ b/makepanda/makewheel.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import tempfile
 import subprocess
 from distutils.sysconfig import get_config_var
 from optparse import OptionParser
-from makepandacore import ColorText, LocateBinary, ParsePandaVersion, GetExtensionSuffix, SetVerbose, GetVerbose
+from makepandacore import ColorText, LocateBinary, ParsePandaVersion, GetExtensionSuffix, SetVerbose, GetVerbose, GetMetadataValue
 from base64 import urlsafe_b64encode
 
 
@@ -103,16 +103,15 @@ Tag: {0}-{1}-{2}
 """
 
 METADATA = {
-    "license": "BSD",
-    "name": "Panda3D",
+    "license": GetMetadataValue('license'),
+    "name": GetMetadataValue('name'),
     "metadata_version": "2.0",
     "generator": "makepanda",
-    "summary": "Panda3D is a game engine, a framework for 3D rendering and "
-               "game development for Python and C++ programs.",
+    "summary": GetMetadataValue('description'),
     "extensions": {
         "python.details": {
             "project_urls": {
-                "Home": "https://www.panda3d.org/"
+                "Home": GetMetadataValue('url'),
             },
             "document_names": {
                 "license": "LICENSE.txt"
@@ -120,25 +119,13 @@ METADATA = {
             "contacts": [
                 {
                     "role": "author",
-                    "email": "etc-panda3d@lists.andrew.cmu.edu",
-                    "name": "Panda3D Team"
+                    "name": GetMetadataValue('author'),
+                    "email": GetMetadataValue('author_email'),
                 }
             ]
         }
     },
-    "classifiers": [
-        "Development Status :: 5 - Production/Stable",
-        "Intended Audience :: Developers",
-        "Intended Audience :: End Users/Desktop",
-        "License :: OSI Approved :: BSD License",
-        "Operating System :: OS Independent",
-        "Programming Language :: C++",
-        "Programming Language :: Python",
-        "Topic :: Games/Entertainment",
-        "Topic :: Multimedia",
-        "Topic :: Multimedia :: Graphics",
-        "Topic :: Multimedia :: Graphics :: 3D Rendering"
-    ]
+    "classifiers": GetMetadataValue('classifiers'),
 }
 
 PANDA3D_TOOLS_INIT = """import os, sys
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a2b7a81fa5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+[metadata]
+name = Panda3D
+version = 1.10.0
+url = https://www.panda3d.org/
+description = Panda3D is a framework for 3D rendering and game development for Python and C++ programs.
+license = Modified BSD License
+license_file = LICENSE
+classifiers =
+    Development Status :: 5 - Production/Stable
+    Intended Audience :: Developers
+    Intended Audience :: End Users/Desktop
+    License :: OSI Approved :: BSD License
+    Operating System :: OS Independent
+    Programming Language :: C++
+    Programming Language :: Python
+    Topic :: Games/Entertainment
+    Topic :: Multimedia
+    Topic :: Multimedia :: Graphics
+    Topic :: Multimedia :: Graphics :: 3D Rendering
+author = Panda3D Team
+author_email = etc-panda3d@lists.andrew.cmu.edu
+
+[tool:pytest]
+testpaths = tests