diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index a969667bf..782a8e364 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 project('mutter', 'c',
-  version: '40.alpha',
+  version: '40.beta',
   meson_version: '>= 0.51.0',
   license: 'GPLv2+'
 )