diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 8b9dea59d..3b3e72317 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.6.1a
+0.6.1b
diff --git a/synapse/__init__.py b/synapse/__init__.py
index 2195ad317..e7e27b06e 100644
--- a/synapse/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/__init__.py
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@
 """ This is a reference implementation of a synapse home server.
 """
 
-__version__ = "0.6.1a"
+__version__ = "0.6.1b"