--- a/Tools/wasm/wasm_assets.py
+++ b/Tools/wasm/wasm_assets.py
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ OMIT_FILES = (
     # regression tests
     "test/",
     # package management
-    "ensurepip/",
     "venv/",
     # other platforms
     "_aix_support.py",
@@ -148,6 +147,13 @@ def create_stdlib_zip(
             if entry.name.endswith(".py") or entry.is_dir():
                 # writepy() writes .pyc files (bytecode).
                 pzf.writepy(entry, filterfunc=filterfunc)
+
+        # Preserve ensurepip wheel payloads so `python -m ensurepip` can
+        # bootstrap pip on targets that consume this stdlib zip archive.
+        bundled_wheels = args.srcdir_lib / "ensurepip" / "_bundled"
+        if bundled_wheels.is_dir():
+            for wheel in sorted(bundled_wheels.glob("*.whl")):
+                pzf.write(wheel, arcname=f"ensurepip/_bundled/{wheel.name}")
 
 
 def detect_extension_modules(args: argparse.Namespace) -> Dict[str, bool]: