diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 2b5b640bc3..f546d9acbc 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2019.03-dev
+2019.03-rc
diff --git a/boot.php b/boot.php
index 1f503c908a..14c0a88ede 100644
--- a/boot.php
+++ b/boot.php
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ use Friendica\Util\DateTimeFormat;
 
 define('FRIENDICA_PLATFORM',     'Friendica');
 define('FRIENDICA_CODENAME',     'The Tazmans Flax-lily');
-define('FRIENDICA_VERSION',      '2019.03-dev');
+define('FRIENDICA_VERSION',      '2019.03-rc');
 define('DFRN_PROTOCOL_VERSION',  '2.23');
 define('NEW_UPDATE_ROUTINE_VERSION', 1170);