diff --git a/platformio/__init__.py b/platformio/__init__.py
index ecc0279e..7fa5d8ca 100644
--- a/platformio/__init__.py
+++ b/platformio/__init__.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 import sys
 
-VERSION = (5, 2, "3b5")
+VERSION = (5, 2, "3rc1")
 __version__ = ".".join([str(s) for s in VERSION])
 
 __title__ = "platformio"