diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 74a4c3d5e8..f09196c3e0 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+# Synapse 1.145.0rc3 (2026-01-07)
+
+No significant changes since 1.145.0rc2.
+
+This RC strips out unnecessary files from the wheels that were added when fixing the source distribution packaging in the previous RC.
+
+
+
 # Synapse 1.145.0rc2 (2026-01-07)
 
 No significant changes since 1.145.0rc1.
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index b0870c798c..7d3961db63 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+matrix-synapse-py3 (1.145.0~rc3) stable; urgency=medium
+
+  * New Synapse release 1.145.0rc3.
+
+ -- Synapse Packaging team <packages@matrix.org>  Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:32:07 -0700
+
 matrix-synapse-py3 (1.145.0~rc2) stable; urgency=medium
 
   * New Synapse release 1.145.0rc2.
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 93c70256eb..ea512c5656 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "matrix-synapse"
-version = "1.145.0rc2"
+version = "1.145.0rc3"
 description = "Homeserver for the Matrix decentralised comms protocol"
 readme = "README.rst"
 authors = [