diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml b/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
index 3e3ee121..c7be1b43 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ matrix_synapse_container_image_self_build_repo: "https://github.com/matrix-org/s
 
 matrix_synapse_docker_image: "{{ matrix_synapse_docker_image_name_prefix }}matrixdotorg/synapse:{{ matrix_synapse_docker_image_tag }}"
 matrix_synapse_docker_image_name_prefix: "{{ 'localhost/' if matrix_synapse_container_image_self_build else matrix_container_global_registry_prefix }}"
-matrix_synapse_version: v1.53.0
+matrix_synapse_version: v1.54.0
 matrix_synapse_docker_image_tag: "{{ matrix_synapse_version }}"
 matrix_synapse_docker_image_force_pull: "{{ matrix_synapse_docker_image.endswith(':latest') }}"
 
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ matrix_synapse_systemd_required_services_list: ['docker.service']
 # List of systemd services that matrix-synapse.service wants
 matrix_synapse_systemd_wanted_services_list: []
 
-matrix_synapse_in_container_python_packages_path: "/usr/local/lib/python3.8/site-packages"
+matrix_synapse_in_container_python_packages_path: "/usr/local/lib/python3.9/site-packages"
 
 # Specifies which template files to use when configuring Synapse.
 # If you'd like to have your own different configuration, feel free to copy and paste