diff --git a/coremain/version.go b/coremain/version.go
index a5ef6553b..7fcc8dd7c 100644
--- a/coremain/version.go
+++ b/coremain/version.go
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ package coremain
 
 // Various CoreDNS constants.
 const (
-	CoreVersion = "1.12.0"
+	CoreVersion = "1.12.1"
 	CoreName    = "CoreDNS"
 	serverType  = "dns"
 )
diff --git a/notes/coredns-1.12.1.md b/notes/coredns-1.12.1.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d73841c3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/notes/coredns-1.12.1.md
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
++++
+title = "CoreDNS-1.12.1 Release"
+description = "CoreDNS-1.12.1 Release Notes."
+tags = ["Release", "1.12.1", "Notes"]
+release = "1.12.1"
+date = "2024-03-24T00:00:00+00:00"
+author = "coredns"
++++
+
+In this release:
+* kubernetes: Revert recent change to only create PTR records for endpoints with hostname defined.
+* forward: added option to return SERVFAIL immediately if all upstreams are unhealthy.
+
+## Brought to You By
+
+Adrian Moisey,
+Arthur Outhenin-Chalandre,
+Bartosz Borkowski,
+Ben Kochie,
+Chris O'Haver,
+Min Woo Kim,
+Puneet Loya,
+Rich,
+Viktor,
+momantech
+
+
+## Noteworthy Changes
+
+* core: Increase CNAME lookup limit from 7 to 10 (https://github.com/coredns/coredns/pull/7153)
+* plugin/kubernetes: Fix handling of pods having DeletionTimestamp set (https://github.com/coredns/coredns/pull/7119) (#7131)
+* plugin/kubernetes: Revert "only create PTR records for endpoints with hostname defined (https://github.com/coredns/coredns/pull/6898)" (#7194)
+* plugin/forward: added option `failfast_all_unhealthy_upstreams` to return servfail if all upstreams are down (https://github.com/coredns/coredns/pull/6999)