diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0e233df70..98565fc32 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 # Various contributors (see AUTHORS.txt)
 # https://tuxpaint.org/
 
-# June 14, 2002 - January 25, 2023
+# June 14, 2002 - March 16, 2023
 
 
 # The version number, for release:
 
-VER_VERSION:=0.9.29
+VER_VERSION:=0.9.29-rc1
 VER_FLAVOR:="-sdl2"
 ifdef SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH
   VER_DATE=$(shell date -u -d "@$(SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH)" "+%Y-%m-%d" 2>/dev/null || date -u -r "$(SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH)" "+%Y-%m-%d" 2>/dev/null || date -u "+%Y-%m-%d")