diff --git a/importlib_metadata/__init__.py b/importlib_metadata/__init__.py
index 26a1388c..9a36a8e6 100644
--- a/importlib_metadata/__init__.py
+++ b/importlib_metadata/__init__.py
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ def __repr__(self):
         return f'<FileHash mode: {self.mode} value: {self.value}>'
 
 
-class Distribution:
+class Distribution(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
     """A Python distribution package."""
 
     @abc.abstractmethod
diff --git a/tests/test_main.py b/tests/test_main.py
index acc9fb39..a9736453 100644
--- a/tests/test_main.py
+++ b/tests/test_main.py
@@ -49,9 +49,8 @@ def test_new_style_classes(self):
         self.assertIsInstance(MetadataPathFinder, type)
 
     def test_abc_enforced(self):
-        with self.assertRaises(AssertionError):  # xfail
-            with self.assertRaises(TypeError):
-                type('DistributionSubclass', (Distribution,), {})()
+        with self.assertRaises(TypeError):
+            type('DistributionSubclass', (Distribution,), {})()
 
     @fixtures.parameterize(
         dict(name=None),