diff --git a/python3.spec b/python3.spec
index 0e7f94e..5442b26 100644
--- a/python3.spec
+++ b/python3.spec
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ URL: https://www.python.org/
 #  WARNING  When rebasing to a new Python version,
 #           remember to update the python3-docs package as well
 Version: %{pybasever}.8
-Release: 64%{?dist}
+Release: 65%{?dist}
 License: Python
 
 
@@ -158,6 +158,12 @@ License: Python
 %global py_INSTSONAME_optimized libpython%{LDVERSION_optimized}.so.%{py_SOVERSION}
 %global py_INSTSONAME_debug     libpython%{LDVERSION_debug}.so.%{py_SOVERSION}
 
+# The -O flag for the compiler, optimized builds
+# https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Changes/Python_built_with_gcc_O3
+%global optflags_optimized -O3
+# The -O flag for the compiler, debug builds
+%global optflags_debug -Og
+
 # Disable automatic bytecompilation. The python3 binary is not yet be
 # available in /usr/bin when Python is built. Also, the bytecompilation fails
 # on files that test invalid syntax.
@@ -1353,12 +1359,12 @@ BuildPython() {
 %if %{with debug_build}
 BuildPython debug \
   "--without-ensurepip --with-pydebug" \
-  "-Og"
+  "%{optflags_debug}"
 %endif # with debug_build
 
 BuildPython optimized \
   "--without-ensurepip %{optimizations_flag}" \
-  ""
+  "%{optflags_optimized}"
 
 # ======================================================
 # Installing the built code:
@@ -1475,14 +1481,14 @@ EOF
 %if %{with debug_build}
 InstallPython debug \
   %{py_INSTSONAME_debug} \
-  -O0 \
+  "%{optflags_debug}" \
   %{LDVERSION_debug}
 %endif # with debug_build
 
 # Now the optimized build:
 InstallPython optimized \
   %{py_INSTSONAME_optimized} \
-  "" \
+  "%{optflags_optimized}" \
   %{LDVERSION_optimized}
 
 # Install directories for additional packages
@@ -2178,6 +2184,10 @@ fi
 # ======================================================
 
 %changelog
+* Wed Jul 24 2024 Charalampos Stratakis <cstratak@redhat.com> - 3.6.8-65
+- Build Python with -O3
+- https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Changes/Python_built_with_gcc_O3
+
 * Thu Jul 18 2024 Miro Hrončok <mhroncok@redhat.com> - 3.6.8-64
 - Add explicit RPM Provides for /usr/libexec/platform-python
 Resolves: RHEL-48605