diff --git a/lib/fluent/version.rb b/lib/fluent/version.rb
index a87e501e0d..ffd0b673d9 100644
--- a/lib/fluent/version.rb
+++ b/lib/fluent/version.rb
@@ -16,6 +16,6 @@
 
 module Fluent
 
-  VERSION = '1.6.3'
+  VERSION = '1.7.0.rc1'
 
 end