diff --git a/changelog.d/16461.misc b/changelog.d/16461.misc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..96d040b742
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/16461.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Update the release script to remind releaser to check for special release notes.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts-dev/release.py b/scripts-dev/release.py
index 74f41a40ec..7508ae5096 100755
--- a/scripts-dev/release.py
+++ b/scripts-dev/release.py
@@ -684,6 +684,10 @@ def full(gh_token: str) -> None:
     click.echo("1. If this is a security release, read the security wiki page.")
     click.echo("2. Check for any release blockers before proceeding.")
     click.echo("    https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/labels/X-Release-Blocker")
+    click.echo(
+        "3. Check for any other special release notes, including announcements to add to the changelog or special deployment instructions."
+    )
+    click.echo("    See the 'Synapse Maintainer Report'.")
 
     click.confirm("Ready?", abort=True)