diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 5948146da25..5aaf561b8e6 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "matrix-js-sdk",
-  "version": "8.5.0",
+  "version": "9.0.0-rc.1",
   "description": "Matrix Client-Server SDK for Javascript",
   "scripts": {
     "prepare": "yarn build",