diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index dc1e644a1014338ad0ca67b5c0bfbd2402e761ee..787b12a4f9df3b8797d158f2028c60103ec82eed 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.6.0
+1.6.1-beta1