diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index 2c220f1b67..0117fb447c 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "3.16.0"
+  ".": "3.16.1"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index bb31f17df5..95aff09cd8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [3.16.1](https://github.com/openai/openai-python/compare/v3.16.0...v3.16.1) (2026-09-18)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **api:** avoid loading unrelated API resources on first use ([#3898](https://github.com/openai/openai-python/issues/3898)) ([68e4317](https://github.com/openai/openai-python/commit/68e4317aa3df4b6e7a5ea3f75833bdd7d76e447d))
+
 ## [3.16.0](https://github.com/openai/openai-python/compare/v3.15.0...v3.16.0) (2026-09-18)
 
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 01f573b765..befdb59130 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "openai"
-version = "3.16.0"
+version = "3.16.1"
 description = "The official Python library for the openai API"
 dynamic = ["readme"]
 license = "Apache-2.0"
diff --git a/src/openai/_version.py b/src/openai/_version.py
index 9c6c33f3d6..395c80d958 100644
--- a/src/openai/_version.py
+++ b/src/openai/_version.py
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 __title__ = "openai"
-__version__ = "3.16.0"  # x-release-please-version
+__version__ = "3.16.1"  # x-release-please-version
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 0d2ac62617..584f310c65 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -1524,7 +1524,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "openai"
-version = "3.16.0" # x-release-please-version
+version = "3.16.1" # x-release-please-version
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "anyio" },