diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index d8a8ee7a74..3b5cb60b3c 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ AC_PREREQ(2.59)
 # In the SVN trunk, the version should always be the next anticipated release
 # version with the "-pre" suffix.  (We used to use "-SNAPSHOT" but this pushed
 # the size of one file name in the dist tarfile over the 99-char limit.)
-AC_INIT([Protocol Buffers],[2.6.0],[protobuf@googlegroups.com],[protobuf])
+AC_INIT([Protocol Buffers],[2.6.1rc1],[protobuf@googlegroups.com],[protobuf])
 
 AM_MAINTAINER_MODE([enable])
 
diff --git a/java/pom.xml b/java/pom.xml
index 8bf242dd4c..0d9779ffd5 100644
--- a/java/pom.xml
+++ b/java/pom.xml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
   </parent>
   <groupId>com.google.protobuf</groupId>
   <artifactId>protobuf-java</artifactId>
-  <version>2.6.0</version>
+  <version>2.6.1rc1</version>
   <packaging>bundle</packaging>
   <name>Protocol Buffer Java API</name>
   <description>
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@
           <instructions>
             <Bundle-DocURL>https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/</Bundle-DocURL>
             <Bundle-SymbolicName>com.google.protobuf</Bundle-SymbolicName>
-            <Export-Package>com.google.protobuf;version=2.6.0</Export-Package>
+            <Export-Package>com.google.protobuf;version=2.6.1rc1</Export-Package>
           </instructions>
         </configuration>
       </plugin>
diff --git a/python/setup.py b/python/setup.py
index 17beac067d..91565c18fe 100755
--- a/python/setup.py
+++ b/python/setup.py
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
         ))
 
   setup(name = 'protobuf',
-        version = '2.6.0',
+        version = '2.6.1rc1',
         packages = [ 'google' ],
         namespace_packages = [ 'google' ],
         test_suite = 'setup.MakeTestSuite',
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index b32635dad5..45ba4d3b23 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ nobase_include_HEADERS =                                        \
 lib_LTLIBRARIES = libprotobuf-lite.la libprotobuf.la libprotoc.la
 
 libprotobuf_lite_la_LIBADD = $(PTHREAD_LIBS)
-libprotobuf_lite_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 9:0:0 -export-dynamic -no-undefined
+libprotobuf_lite_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 9:1:0 -export-dynamic -no-undefined
 libprotobuf_lite_la_SOURCES =                                  \
   google/protobuf/stubs/atomicops_internals_x86_gcc.cc         \
   google/protobuf/stubs/atomicops_internals_x86_msvc.cc        \
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ libprotobuf_lite_la_SOURCES =                                  \
   google/protobuf/io/zero_copy_stream_impl_lite.cc
 
 libprotobuf_la_LIBADD = $(PTHREAD_LIBS)
-libprotobuf_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 9:0:0 -export-dynamic -no-undefined
+libprotobuf_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 9:1:0 -export-dynamic -no-undefined
 libprotobuf_la_SOURCES =                                       \
   $(libprotobuf_lite_la_SOURCES)                               \
   google/protobuf/stubs/strutil.cc                             \
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ libprotobuf_la_SOURCES =                                       \
   google/protobuf/compiler/parser.cc
 
 libprotoc_la_LIBADD = $(PTHREAD_LIBS) libprotobuf.la
-libprotoc_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 9:0:0 -export-dynamic -no-undefined
+libprotoc_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 9:1:0 -export-dynamic -no-undefined
 libprotoc_la_SOURCES =                                         \
   google/protobuf/compiler/code_generator.cc                   \
   google/protobuf/compiler/command_line_interface.cc           \
diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/stubs/common.h b/src/google/protobuf/stubs/common.h
index 79ced81f5a..f096fa99f5 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/stubs/common.h
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/stubs/common.h
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ namespace internal {
 
 // The current version, represented as a single integer to make comparison
 // easier:  major * 10^6 + minor * 10^3 + micro
-#define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_VERSION 2006000
+#define GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_VERSION 2006001
 
 // The minimum library version which works with the current version of the
 // headers.