diff --git a/macros.python3 b/macros.python3
index 2b41d24..d6d913c 100644
--- a/macros.python3
+++ b/macros.python3
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 %__python3 /usr/bin/python3
 %python3_sitelib %(%{__python3} -c "from distutils.sysconfig import get_python_lib; print(get_python_lib())")
 %python3_sitearch %(%{__python3} -c "from distutils.sysconfig import get_python_lib; print(get_python_lib(1))")
+%python3_version %(%{__python3} -c "import sys; sys.stdout.write(sys.version[:3])")
 %py3dir %{_builddir}/python3-%{name}-%{version}-%{release}
diff --git a/python3.spec b/python3.spec
index 5ff3866..7c9246c 100644
--- a/python3.spec
+++ b/python3.spec
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
 Summary: Version 3 of the Python programming language aka Python 3000
 Name: python3
 Version: %{pybasever}.1
-Release: 2%{?dist}
+Release: 3%{?dist}
 License: Python
 Group: Development/Languages
 
@@ -1292,6 +1292,9 @@ rm -fr %{buildroot}
 # ======================================================
 
 %changelog
+* Thu Aug 18 2011 David Malcolm <dmalcolm@redhat.com> - 3.2.1-3
+- add %%python3_version to the rpm macros (rhbz#719082)
+
 * Mon Jul 11 2011 Dennis Gilmore <dennis@ausil.us> - 3.2.1-2
 - disable some tests on sparc arches