diff --git a/packages/app/fastlane/Fastfile b/packages/app/fastlane/Fastfile
index d41dcb8ef..2af230c85 100644
--- a/packages/app/fastlane/Fastfile
+++ b/packages/app/fastlane/Fastfile
@@ -56,6 +56,18 @@ platform :ios do
     # and won't auto-create one when skip_metadata + skip_screenshots are set.
     app.ensure_version!(app_version, platform: Spaceship::ConnectAPI::Platform::IOS)
 
+    # Apple requires a non-empty "What's New" on every new App Store version
+    # before it can be submitted for review. With skip_metadata: true, deliver
+    # never sets this, so we populate it directly per-locale.
+    edit_version = app.get_edit_app_store_version(platform: Spaceship::ConnectAPI::Platform::IOS)
+    release_notes = "Bug fixes and improvements."
+    edit_version.get_app_store_version_localizations.each do |localization|
+      if localization.whats_new.to_s.strip.empty?
+        UI.message("Setting whatsNew on #{localization.locale}")
+        localization.update(attributes: { whatsNew: release_notes })
+      end
+    end
+
     deliver(
       api_key: api_key,
       app_identifier: APP_IDENTIFIER,