diff --git a/synapse/__init__.py b/synapse/__init__.py
index 749a60329c..fd87c7e2d0 100644
--- a/synapse/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/__init__.py
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@
 """ This is a reference implementation of a Matrix home server.
 """
 
-__version__ = "0.8.1-r2"
+__version__ = "0.8.1-r3"