diff --git a/platformio/__init__.py b/platformio/__init__.py
index d72d9f15..c7f83f1e 100644
--- a/platformio/__init__.py
+++ b/platformio/__init__.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 import sys
 
-VERSION = (3, 6, "0a11")
+VERSION = (3, 6, "0rc1")
 __version__ = ".".join([str(s) for s in VERSION])
 
 __title__ = "platformio"
diff --git a/platformio/managers/core.py b/platformio/managers/core.py
index 7faf4efd..ef185cf9 100644
--- a/platformio/managers/core.py
+++ b/platformio/managers/core.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from platformio.managers.package import PackageManager
 CORE_PACKAGES = {
     "contrib-piohome": "^1.0.2",
     "contrib-pysite": ">=0.3.2,<2",
-    "tool-pioplus": "^1.4.2",
+    "tool-pioplus": "^1.4.5",
     "tool-unity": "~1.20403.0",
     "tool-scons": "~2.20501.4"
 }