diff --git a/skopeo.spec b/skopeo.spec
index d476e91..9ab1c28 100644
--- a/skopeo.spec
+++ b/skopeo.spec
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 %define conditional_epoch 1
 %define fakeroot 1
 %else
-%define conditional_epoch 2
+%define conditional_epoch 3
 %endif
 
 Name: skopeo
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Epoch: %{conditional_epoch}
 Version: 1.23.0
 # The `AND` needs to be uppercase in the License for SPDX compatibility
 License: Apache-2.0 AND BSD-2-Clause AND BSD-3-Clause AND ISC AND MIT AND MPL-2.0
-Release: 1%{?dist}
+Release: 2%{?dist}
 %if %{defined golang_arches_future}
 ExclusiveArch: %{golang_arches_future}
 %else
@@ -186,6 +186,10 @@ cp -pav systemtest/* %{buildroot}/%{_datadir}/%{name}/test/system/
 %{_datadir}/%{name}/test
 
 %changelog
+* Thu Jul 30 2026 Jindrich Novy <jnovy@redhat.com> - 3:1.23.0-2
+- bump Epoch to preserve upgrade path
+- Resolves: RHEL-220536
+
 * Wed Jun 17 2026 Jindrich Novy <jnovy@redhat.com> - 2:1.23.0-1
 - update to https://github.com/containers/skopeo/releases/tag/v1.23.0
 - Resolves: RHEL-185735