diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index af8d4d1d1..64158a762 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ AC_REVISION([$Id: configure.ac,v 1.450 2010/05/28 19:42:47 dmh Exp $])
 AC_PREREQ([2.59])
 
 # Initialize with name, version, and support email address. 
-AC_INIT([netCDF], [4.2.1-beta1], [support-netcdf@unidata.ucar.edu])
+AC_INIT([netCDF], [4.2.1-rc1], [support-netcdf@unidata.ucar.edu])
 
 # Create the VERSION file, which contains the package version from
 # AC_INIT.