diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 89c881bc9cb92..868b3aa824516 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.12.4
+1.12.5-dev
diff --git a/docs/root/intro/version_history.rst b/docs/root/intro/version_history.rst
index 1ac4a5c91b549..8d51361aaf3a5 100644
--- a/docs/root/intro/version_history.rst
+++ b/docs/root/intro/version_history.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 Version history
 ---------------
 
+1.12.5 (Pending)
+================
+
 1.12.4 (June 8, 2020)
 =====================
 * http: added :ref:`headers_with_underscores_action setting <envoy_api_field_core.HttpProtocolOptions.headers_with_underscores_action>` to control how client requests with header names containing underscore characters are handled. The options are to allow such headers, reject request or drop headers. The default is to allow headers, preserving existing behavior.