diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 2b97e8ab20..69e281227e 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -89,9 +89,9 @@ set(ARANGODB_VERSION_MINOR "4")
 
 # when building the nightly ARANGODB_VERSION_PATCH will be set
 if (NOT DEFINED ARANGODB_VERSION_PATCH)
-  set(ARANGODB_VERSION_PATCH           "0")
-  set(ARANGODB_VERSION_RELEASE_TYPE   "rc")
-  set(ARANGODB_VERSION_RELEASE_NUMBER "1")
+  set(ARANGODB_VERSION_PATCH          "devel")
+  set(ARANGODB_VERSION_RELEASE_TYPE   "")
+  set(ARANGODB_VERSION_RELEASE_NUMBER "")
 else()
   unset(ARANGODB_VERSION_RELEASE_TYPE)
   unset(ARANGODB_VERSION_RELEASE_NUMBER)
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 1125b471d5..d2f4978395 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.4.0-rc.1
+3.4.devel