diff --git a/scripts/package-json-cleanup.js b/scripts/package-json-cleanup.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..914e346
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/package-json-cleanup.js
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2021  CismonX <admin@cismon.net>
+ *
+ * Copying and distribution of this file, with or without modification, are
+ * permitted in any medium without royalty, provided the copyright notice and
+ * this notice are preserved. This file is offered as-is, without any warranty.
+ */
+
+// Removes entries from package.json which is not required in the .vsix file,
+// so that the file size can be reduced.
+delete this._copyrightNotice;
+delete this.devDependencies;
+delete this.eslintConfig;
+delete this.scripts.build;
+delete this.scripts.prepare;
+delete this.scripts.lint;
+delete this.scripts.watch;
diff --git a/scripts/package.sh b/scripts/package.sh
index 118b717..e577f55 100755
--- a/scripts/package.sh
+++ b/scripts/package.sh
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ for file in ${JSON_FILES[@]}; do
     mv $file $file.$BACKUP_SUFFIX
     json5 -o $file $file.$BACKUP_SUFFIX
 done
-json -j0 -I -e 'delete this.eslintConfig; delete this.devDependencies; delete this._copyrightNotice' -f package.json
-vsce package --baseContentUrl=`json -f package.json repository.url`
+json -j0 -I -e "$(cat ./scripts/package-json-cleanup.js)" -f package.json
+vsce package --baseContentUrl=$(json -f package.json repository.url)
 for file in ${JSON_FILES[@]}; do
     mv $file.$BACKUP_SUFFIX $file
 done