diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index eb73632f1b335a266163f76786e94e1255681b91..e6cf514dcff39a5bdfc8e594ac5a96b35991e1ef 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.6.1-beta3
+1.6.1-rc1