diff --git a/dowsing/pep621.py b/dowsing/pep621.py
index 4a956b2..47697f8 100644
--- a/dowsing/pep621.py
+++ b/dowsing/pep621.py
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ def get_pep621_metadata(self) -> Distribution:
                         )
                         d.packages_dict = {i: i.replace(".", "/") for i in d.packages}
                 elif k == "license":
-                    if "text" in v:
+                    if isinstance(v, str):
+                        pass  # PEP 639 proposes `license = "MIT"` style metadata
+                    elif "text" in v:
                         v = v["text"]
                     elif "file" in v:
                         v = f"file: {v['file']}"
diff --git a/dowsing/tests/pep621.py b/dowsing/tests/pep621.py
index 99069b9..408f3ae 100644
--- a/dowsing/tests/pep621.py
+++ b/dowsing/tests/pep621.py
@@ -55,3 +55,19 @@ def test_normal(self) -> None:
                 },
                 md.asdict(),
             )
+
+    def test_pep639(self) -> None:
+        with volatile.dir() as d:
+            dp = Path(d)
+            (dp / "pyproject.toml").write_text(
+                """\
+[project]
+name = "Name"
+license = "MIT"
+"""
+            )
+
+            r = Pep621Reader(dp)
+            md = r.get_pep621_metadata()
+            self.assertEqual("Name", md.name)
+            self.assertEqual("MIT", md.license)