diff --git a/conda_smithy/linter/utils.py b/conda_smithy/linter/utils.py
index 93c731463..281d43c0f 100644
--- a/conda_smithy/linter/utils.py
+++ b/conda_smithy/linter/utils.py
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
 
 VALID_PYTHON_BUILD_BACKENDS = [
     "setuptools",
+    "flit",
     "flit-core",
     "hatchling",
     "poetry",
diff --git a/news/add-flit.rst b/news/add-flit.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d613541e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/add-flit.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+**Added:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Changed:**
+
+* Add `flit` (previously only `flit-core`) to the list of valid build backends (#2187)
+
+**Deprecated:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Removed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Fixed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Security:**
+
+* <news item>