diff --git a/jupyterhub/_version.py b/jupyterhub/_version.py
index 30c28764..54d248c5 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/_version.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/_version.py
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ version_info = (
     0,
     9,
     0,
-    '',  # release
-    'dev',  # dev
+    "b3",  # release (b1, rc1)
+    # "dev",  # dev
 )
 
 # pep 440 version: no dot before beta/rc, but before .dev