diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index b35d44161c..4e4d58aa66 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5.3-dev
+3.5.3-rc
diff --git a/boot.php b/boot.php
index 32fee4f509..419a634fa2 100644
--- a/boot.php
+++ b/boot.php
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ require_once 'include/poller.php';
 
 define ( 'FRIENDICA_PLATFORM',     'Friendica');
 define ( 'FRIENDICA_CODENAME',     'Asparagus');
-define ( 'FRIENDICA_VERSION',      '3.5.3-dev' );
+define ( 'FRIENDICA_VERSION',      '3.5.3-rc' );
 define ( 'DFRN_PROTOCOL_VERSION',  '2.23'    );
 define ( 'DB_UPDATE_VERSION',      1234      );