diff --git a/Documentation/contributor-guide/release.md b/Documentation/contributor-guide/release.md
index 262ce4f80..fbef4fb90 100644
--- a/Documentation/contributor-guide/release.md
+++ b/Documentation/contributor-guide/release.md
@@ -73,3 +73,12 @@ git log ...${PREV_VERSION} --pretty=format:"%an" | sort | uniq | tr '\n' ',' | s
 
 - Create new stable branch through `git push origin ${VERSION_MAJOR}.${VERSION_MINOR}` if this is a major stable release. This assumes `origin` corresponds to "https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd".
 - Bump [hardcoded Version in the repository](https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/blob/v3.4.15/version/version.go#L30) to the version `${VERSION}+git`.
+
+## Patch release criteria
+
+The etcd project aims to release a new patch version if any of the following conditions are met:
+
+- Fixed one or more major CVEs (>=7.5).
+- Fixed one or more critical bugs.
+- Fixed three or more major bugs.
+- Fixed five or more minor bugs.