diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index a7ed49e10..3b3292823 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
-Unreleased
-==========
+Changes in synapse v0.26.1 (2018-03-15)
+=======================================
 
-synctl no longer starts the main synapse when using ``-a`` option with workers.
-A new worker file should be added with ``worker_app: synapse.app.homeserver``.
+Bug fixes:
 
-This release also begins the process of renaming a number of the metrics
-reported to prometheus. See `docs/metrics-howto.rst <docs/metrics-howto.rst#block-and-response-metrics-renamed-for-0-27-0>`_.
+* Fix bug where an invalid event caused server to stop functioning correctly,
+  due to parsing and serializing bugs in ujson library.
 
 
 Changes in synapse v0.26.0 (2018-01-05)
diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 76fe2e413..ef27b92dd 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -354,6 +354,10 @@ https://matrix.org/docs/projects/try-matrix-now.html (or build your own with one
 Fedora
 ------
 
+Synapse is in the Fedora repositories as ``matrix-synapse``::
+
+    sudo dnf install matrix-synapse
+
 Oleg Girko provides Fedora RPMs at
 https://obs.infoserver.lv/project/monitor/matrix-synapse
 
@@ -890,6 +894,17 @@ This should end with a 'PASSED' result::
 
     PASSED (successes=143)
 
+Running the Integration Tests
+=============================
+
+Synapse is accompanied by `SyTest <https://github.com/matrix-org/sytest>`_,
+a Matrix homeserver integration testing suite, which uses HTTP requests to
+access the API as a Matrix client would. It is able to run Synapse directly from
+the source tree, so installation of the server is not required.
+
+Testing with SyTest is recommended for verifying that changes related to the
+Client-Server API are functioning correctly. See the `installation instructions
+<https://github.com/matrix-org/sytest#installing>`_ for details.
 
 Building Internal API Documentation
 ===================================
diff --git a/synapse/__init__.py b/synapse/__init__.py
index ef8853bd2..80efad3a6 100644
--- a/synapse/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/__init__.py
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@
 """ This is a reference implementation of a Matrix home server.
 """
 
-__version__ = "0.26.0"
+__version__ = "0.26.1"
diff --git a/synapse/api/filtering.py b/synapse/api/filtering.py
index 83206348e..db43219d2 100644
--- a/synapse/api/filtering.py
+++ b/synapse/api/filtering.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from synapse.storage.presence import UserPresenceState
 from synapse.types import UserID, RoomID
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 import jsonschema
 from jsonschema import FormatChecker
 
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/e2e_keys.py b/synapse/handlers/e2e_keys.py
index 31b1ece13..80b359b2e 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/e2e_keys.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/e2e_keys.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 import logging
 
 from canonicaljson import encode_canonical_json
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/message.py b/synapse/handlers/message.py
index 4f97c8db7..5a8ddc253 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/message.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/message.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ from canonicaljson import encode_canonical_json
 
 import logging
 import random
-import ujson
+import simplejson
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -678,8 +678,8 @@ class EventCreationHandler(object):
 
         # Ensure that we can round trip before trying to persist in db
         try:
-            dump = ujson.dumps(unfreeze(event.content))
-            ujson.loads(dump)
+            dump = simplejson.dumps(unfreeze(event.content))
+            simplejson.loads(dump)
         except Exception:
             logger.exception("Failed to encode content: %r", event.content)
             raise
diff --git a/synapse/http/server.py b/synapse/http/server.py
index 3c7a0ef97..1551db239 100644
--- a/synapse/http/server.py
+++ b/synapse/http/server.py
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ from twisted.web.util import redirectTo
 import collections
 import logging
 import urllib
-import ujson
 import simplejson
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -462,7 +461,6 @@ def respond_with_json(request, code, json_object, send_cors=False,
         if canonical_json or synapse.events.USE_FROZEN_DICTS:
             json_bytes = encode_canonical_json(json_object)
         else:
-            # ujson doesn't like frozen_dicts.
             json_bytes = simplejson.dumps(json_object)
 
     return respond_with_json_bytes(
diff --git a/synapse/replication/tcp/commands.py b/synapse/replication/tcp/commands.py
index 171227cce..9633404f7 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/tcp/commands.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/tcp/commands.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ allowed to be sent by which side.
 """
 
 import logging
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
index f8999d64d..70d788dee 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/room.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ from synapse.http.servlet import (
 
 import logging
 import urllib
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/synapse/rest/media/v1/preview_url_resource.py b/synapse/rest/media/v1/preview_url_resource.py
index 31fe7aa75..0fc21540c 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/media/v1/preview_url_resource.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/media/v1/preview_url_resource.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import re
 import shutil
 import sys
 import traceback
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 import urlparse
 
 from twisted.web.server import NOT_DONE_YET
diff --git a/synapse/storage/account_data.py b/synapse/storage/account_data.py
index e70c9423e..f83ff0454 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/account_data.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/account_data.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from synapse.util.caches.stream_change_cache import StreamChangeCache
 from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cached, cachedList, cachedInlineCallbacks
 
 import abc
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 import logging
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/synapse/storage/background_updates.py b/synapse/storage/background_updates.py
index c88759bf2..8af325a9f 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/background_updates.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/background_updates.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from . import engines
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 import logging
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/synapse/storage/deviceinbox.py b/synapse/storage/deviceinbox.py
index 548e795da..a879e5bfc 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/deviceinbox.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/deviceinbox.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import logging
-import ujson
+import simplejson
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class DeviceInboxStore(BackgroundUpdateStore):
             )
             rows = []
             for destination, edu in remote_messages_by_destination.items():
-                edu_json = ujson.dumps(edu)
+                edu_json = simplejson.dumps(edu)
                 rows.append((destination, stream_id, now_ms, edu_json))
             txn.executemany(sql, rows)
 
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ class DeviceInboxStore(BackgroundUpdateStore):
                     " WHERE user_id = ?"
                 )
                 txn.execute(sql, (user_id,))
-                message_json = ujson.dumps(messages_by_device["*"])
+                message_json = simplejson.dumps(messages_by_device["*"])
                 for row in txn:
                     # Add the message for all devices for this user on this
                     # server.
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ class DeviceInboxStore(BackgroundUpdateStore):
                     # Only insert into the local inbox if the device exists on
                     # this server
                     device = row[0]
-                    message_json = ujson.dumps(messages_by_device[device])
+                    message_json = simplejson.dumps(messages_by_device[device])
                     messages_json_for_user[device] = message_json
 
             if messages_json_for_user:
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ class DeviceInboxStore(BackgroundUpdateStore):
             messages = []
             for row in txn:
                 stream_pos = row[0]
-                messages.append(ujson.loads(row[1]))
+                messages.append(simplejson.loads(row[1]))
             if len(messages) < limit:
                 stream_pos = current_stream_id
             return (messages, stream_pos)
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ class DeviceInboxStore(BackgroundUpdateStore):
             messages = []
             for row in txn:
                 stream_pos = row[0]
-                messages.append(ujson.loads(row[1]))
+                messages.append(simplejson.loads(row[1]))
             if len(messages) < limit:
                 stream_pos = current_stream_id
             return (messages, stream_pos)
diff --git a/synapse/storage/devices.py b/synapse/storage/devices.py
index bd2effdf3..712106b83 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/devices.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/devices.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 import logging
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/end_to_end_keys.py b/synapse/storage/end_to_end_keys.py
index 2cebb203c..ff8538ddf 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/end_to_end_keys.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/end_to_end_keys.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from twisted.internet import defer
 from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cached
 
 from canonicaljson import encode_canonical_json
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 
 from ._base import SQLBaseStore
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/event_push_actions.py b/synapse/storage/event_push_actions.py
index 01f833982..e78f8d011 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/event_push_actions.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/event_push_actions.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ from synapse.types import RoomStreamToken
 from .stream import lower_bound
 
 import logging
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/events.py b/synapse/storage/events.py
index 9fc65229f..85ce6bea1 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/events.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/events.py
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ event_counter = metrics.register_counter(
 
 def encode_json(json_object):
     if USE_FROZEN_DICTS:
-        # ujson doesn't like frozen_dicts
         return encode_canonical_json(json_object)
     else:
         return json.dumps(json_object, ensure_ascii=False)
diff --git a/synapse/storage/receipts.py b/synapse/storage/receipts.py
index eac8694e0..63997ed44 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/receipts.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/receipts.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from twisted.internet import defer
 
 import abc
 import logging
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/synapse/storage/room.py b/synapse/storage/room.py
index 34ed84ea2..908551d6d 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/room.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/room.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cached, cachedInlineCallbacks
 
 import collections
 import logging
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 import re
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/synapse/storage/roommember.py b/synapse/storage/roommember.py
index 52e19e16b..d662d1cfc 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/roommember.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/roommember.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ from synapse.api.constants import Membership, EventTypes
 from synapse.types import get_domain_from_id
 
 import logging
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/delta/25/fts.py b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/25/fts.py
index 4269ac69a..e7351c3ae 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/schema/delta/25/fts.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/25/fts.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import logging
 from synapse.storage.prepare_database import get_statements
 from synapse.storage.engines import PostgresEngine, Sqlite3Engine
 
-import ujson
+import simplejson
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def run_create(cur, database_engine, *args, **kwargs):
             "max_stream_id_exclusive": max_stream_id + 1,
             "rows_inserted": 0,
         }
-        progress_json = ujson.dumps(progress)
+        progress_json = simplejson.dumps(progress)
 
         sql = (
             "INSERT into background_updates (update_name, progress_json)"
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/delta/27/ts.py b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/27/ts.py
index 71b12a273..6df57b520 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/schema/delta/27/ts.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/27/ts.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import logging
 
 from synapse.storage.prepare_database import get_statements
 
-import ujson
+import simplejson
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def run_create(cur, database_engine, *args, **kwargs):
             "max_stream_id_exclusive": max_stream_id + 1,
             "rows_inserted": 0,
         }
-        progress_json = ujson.dumps(progress)
+        progress_json = simplejson.dumps(progress)
 
         sql = (
             "INSERT into background_updates (update_name, progress_json)"
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/delta/31/search_update.py b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/31/search_update.py
index 470ae0c00..fe6b7d196 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/schema/delta/31/search_update.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/31/search_update.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from synapse.storage.engines import PostgresEngine
 from synapse.storage.prepare_database import get_statements
 
 import logging
-import ujson
+import simplejson
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def run_create(cur, database_engine, *args, **kwargs):
             "rows_inserted": 0,
             "have_added_indexes": False,
         }
-        progress_json = ujson.dumps(progress)
+        progress_json = simplejson.dumps(progress)
 
         sql = (
             "INSERT into background_updates (update_name, progress_json)"
diff --git a/synapse/storage/schema/delta/33/event_fields.py b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/33/event_fields.py
index 83066cccc..1e002f9db 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/schema/delta/33/event_fields.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/schema/delta/33/event_fields.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 from synapse.storage.prepare_database import get_statements
 
 import logging
-import ujson
+import simplejson
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def run_create(cur, database_engine, *args, **kwargs):
             "max_stream_id_exclusive": max_stream_id + 1,
             "rows_inserted": 0,
         }
-        progress_json = ujson.dumps(progress)
+        progress_json = simplejson.dumps(progress)
 
         sql = (
             "INSERT into background_updates (update_name, progress_json)"
diff --git a/synapse/storage/search.py b/synapse/storage/search.py
index 2755acff4..984643b05 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/search.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/search.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 from collections import namedtuple
 import logging
 import re
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
diff --git a/synapse/storage/tags.py b/synapse/storage/tags.py
index fc46bf7bb..13bff9f05 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/tags.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/tags.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from synapse.storage.account_data import AccountDataWorkerStore
 from synapse.util.caches.descriptors import cached
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 import logging
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/synapse/storage/transactions.py b/synapse/storage/transactions.py
index 8f61f7ffa..f825264ea 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/transactions.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/transactions.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from canonicaljson import encode_canonical_json
 from collections import namedtuple
 
 import logging
-import ujson as json
+import simplejson as json
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)