diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index b5e450eeb6..3df2d23ca2 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ set(ARANGODB_VERSION_MINOR "5")
 
 # when building the nightly ARANGODB_VERSION_PATCH will be set
 if (NOT DEFINED ARANGODB_VERSION_PATCH)
-  set(ARANGODB_VERSION_PATCH "1")
+  set(ARANGODB_VERSION_PATCH "3")
   set(ARANGODB_VERSION_RELEASE_TYPE "")
   set(ARANGODB_VERSION_RELEASE_NUMBER "")
 else()
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index d5c0c99142..444877d48f 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5.1
+3.5.3