diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index d5da8662..119f48ca 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+44.rc
+=====
+* Bump version
+
 44.beta
 =======
 * Tweak menu alignment [robxnano; !246]
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index ad9c91d6..b3f1892b 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 project('gnome-shell-extensions',
-  version: '44.beta',
+  version: '44.rc',
   meson_version: '>= 0.53.0',
   license: 'GPL2+'
 )