diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 56d1a5a7d7..e10ac0314a 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,3 +1,14 @@
+Synapse 1.59.1 (2022-05-18)
+===========================
+
+This release fixes a long-standing issue which could prevent Synapse's user directory for updating properly.
+
+Bugfixes
+----------------
+
+- Fix a long-standing bug where the user directory background process would fail to make forward progress if a user included a null codepoint in their display name or avatar. Contributed by Nick @ Beeper. ([\#12762](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/12762))
+
+
 Synapse 1.59.0 (2022-05-17)
 ===========================
 
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index cc6152d5b3..dda342a630 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+matrix-synapse-py3 (1.59.1) stable; urgency=medium
+
+  * New Synapse release 1.59.1.
+
+ -- Synapse Packaging team <packages@matrix.org>  Wed, 18 May 2022 11:41:46 +0100
+
 matrix-synapse-py3 (1.59.0) stable; urgency=medium
 
   * New Synapse release 1.59.0.
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index e600a1d52e..5a5a2eaba7 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ skip_gitignore = true
 
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "matrix-synapse"
-version = "1.59.0"
+version = "1.59.1"
 description = "Homeserver for the Matrix decentralised comms protocol"
 authors = ["Matrix.org Team and Contributors <packages@matrix.org>"]
 license = "Apache-2.0"