diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 43d26fc133..4d214c23b6 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+matrix-synapse-py3 (1.39.0~rc1) stable; urgency=medium
+
+  * New synapse release 1.39.0rc1.
+
+ -- Synapse Packaging team <packages@matrix.org>  Tue, 20 Jul 2021 14:28:34 +0100
+
 matrix-synapse-py3 (1.38.0) stable; urgency=medium
 
   * New synapse release 1.38.0.