diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml b/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
index c56db7b6c..eb9462d20 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ matrix_synapse_enabled: true
 
 matrix_synapse_container_image_self_build: false
 
-matrix_synapse_docker_image: "matrixdotorg/synapse:v1.16.1"
+matrix_synapse_docker_image: "matrixdotorg/synapse:v1.17.0"
 matrix_synapse_docker_image_force_pull: "{{ matrix_synapse_docker_image.endswith(':latest') }}"
 
 matrix_synapse_base_path: "{{ matrix_base_data_path }}/synapse"
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/homeserver.yaml.j2 b/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/homeserver.yaml.j2
index fb432f870..5ed2524bf 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/homeserver.yaml.j2
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/homeserver.yaml.j2
@@ -1781,12 +1781,39 @@ sso:
     #template_dir: "res/templates"
 
 
-# The JWT needs to contain a globally unique "sub" (subject) claim.
+# JSON web token integration. The following settings can be used to make
+# Synapse JSON web tokens for authentication, instead of its internal
+# password database.
+#
+# Each JSON Web Token needs to contain a "sub" (subject) claim, which is
+# used as the localpart of the mxid.
+#
+# Note that this is a non-standard login type and client support is
+# expected to be non-existant.
+#
+# See https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/blob/master/docs/jwt.md.
 #
 #jwt_config:
-#   enabled: true
-#   secret: "a secret"
-#   algorithm: "HS256"
+    # Uncomment the following to enable authorization using JSON web
+    # tokens. Defaults to false.
+    #
+    #enabled: true
+
+    # This is either the private shared secret or the public key used to
+    # decode the contents of the JSON web token.
+    #
+    # Required if 'enabled' is true.
+    #
+    #secret: "provided-by-your-issuer"
+
+    # The algorithm used to sign the JSON web token.
+    #
+    # Supported algorithms are listed at
+    # https://pyjwt.readthedocs.io/en/latest/algorithms.html
+    #
+    # Required if 'enabled' is true.
+    #
+    #algorithm: "provided-by-your-issuer"
 
 
 password_config: