diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 0e368f5..511fbcb 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ ubuntu-dev-tools (0.144) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
     (LP: #1029155)
   * sponsor-patch: Fix crash if Debian patch contains a slash.
 
+  [ Colin Watson ]
+  * syncpackage: Default to <current_series>-proposed.
+
  -- Stefano Rivera <stefanor@ubuntu.com>  Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:47:01 +0200
 
 ubuntu-dev-tools (0.143) unstable; urgency=low
diff --git a/syncpackage b/syncpackage
index e028cb6..f156e5c 100755
--- a/syncpackage
+++ b/syncpackage
@@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ def main():
 
     if options.release is None:
         ubuntu = Launchpad.distributions["ubuntu"]
-        options.release = ubuntu.current_series.name
+        options.release = "%s-proposed" % ubuntu.current_series.name
 
     if not options.fakesync and not options.lp:
         Logger.warn("The use of --no-lp is not recommended for uploads "