diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 9fb7221fc5..771d349de7 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2021.12-dev
+2021.12-rc
diff --git a/boot.php b/boot.php
index d291220ce8..a185a6b509 100644
--- a/boot.php
+++ b/boot.php
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ use Friendica\Model\Contact;
 
 define('FRIENDICA_PLATFORM',     'Friendica');
 define('FRIENDICA_CODENAME',     'Siberian Iris');
-define('FRIENDICA_VERSION',      '2021.12-dev');
+define('FRIENDICA_VERSION',      '2021.12-rc');
 define('DFRN_PROTOCOL_VERSION',  '2.23');
 define('NEW_TABLE_STRUCTURE_VERSION', 1288);