diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c1b78de8d..274d41df6 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,13 @@
 
 [1]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@google-cloud/pubsub?activeTab=versions
 
+### [2.16.6](https://www.github.com/googleapis/nodejs-pubsub/compare/v2.16.5...v2.16.6) (2021-08-19)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* don't require a `data` attribute to be passed when sending a message ([#1370](https://www.github.com/googleapis/nodejs-pubsub/issues/1370)) ([97fd4f0](https://www.github.com/googleapis/nodejs-pubsub/commit/97fd4f041c195e0388b0613b2cf9710b89ab4e15))
+
 ### [2.16.5](https://www.github.com/googleapis/nodejs-pubsub/compare/v2.16.4...v2.16.5) (2021-08-18)
 
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 97e80f684..d2eafb373 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "@google-cloud/pubsub",
   "description": "Cloud Pub/Sub Client Library for Node.js",
-  "version": "2.16.5",
+  "version": "2.16.6",
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
   "author": "Google Inc.",
   "engines": {
diff --git a/samples/package.json b/samples/package.json
index 990df89ad..3f001a93b 100644
--- a/samples/package.json
+++ b/samples/package.json
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
     "updatejs": "cp build/*.js ."
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "@google-cloud/pubsub": "^2.16.5",
+    "@google-cloud/pubsub": "^2.16.6",
     "@opentelemetry/api": "^1.0.0",
     "@opentelemetry/tracing": "^0.24.0",
     "avro-js": "^1.10.1",