diff --git a/pkgs/games/papermc/update.py b/pkgs/games/papermc/update.py
index 2eb4e7c2790e..7bfc8ee3a0b7 100755
--- a/pkgs/games/papermc/update.py
+++ b/pkgs/games/papermc/update.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class VersionManager:
 
         # we only want versions that are no pre-releases
         release_versions = filter(
-            lambda v_name: 'pre' not in v_name, response.json()["versions"])
+            lambda v_name: all(s not in v_name for s in ["pre", "rc"]), response.json()["versions"])
 
         for version_name in release_versions:
 
diff --git a/pkgs/games/papermc/versions.json b/pkgs/games/papermc/versions.json
index 9f9530e39f20..1a6a735d7de1 100644
--- a/pkgs/games/papermc/versions.json
+++ b/pkgs/games/papermc/versions.json
@@ -86,5 +86,9 @@
     "1.21.8": {
         "hash": "sha256-jefFLDsCQDUD0W+sWAA/Hv733XoCVnhoQ5J/qS7lfx4=",
         "version": "1.21.8-60"
+    },
+    "1.21.9": {
+        "hash": "sha256-YXZVx7iTC3EViKM8r4SKBLgArd0JcZ9jziZuBtWBYOc=",
+        "version": "1.21.9-41"
     }
 }