diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index dd07aa1a..2fa2cf6e 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 notmuch (0.15~rc1-1) experimental; urgency=low
 
   * New upstream release candidate.
+  * Change priority to optional (Closes: #687217).
 
  -- David Bremner <bremner@debian.org>  Mon, 07 Jan 2013 21:40:52 -0400
 
diff --git a/debian/control b/debian/control
index f7252769..ed026b09 100644
--- a/debian/control
+++ b/debian/control
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Source: notmuch
 Section: mail
-Priority: extra
+Priority: optional
 Maintainer: Carl Worth <cworth@debian.org>
 Uploaders:
  Jameson Graef Rollins <jrollins@finestructure.net>,