diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 42750fd42..c525da21b 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ clean:
 
 
 # rule for making release
-RNAME = mtex-4.4.alpha.2
+RNAME = mtex-4.4.alpha.3
 RDIR = ../releases
 release:
 	rm -rf $(RDIR)/$(RNAME)*
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 2ceaee7bb..feed2e1a2 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
- MTEX 4.4.alpha.2
+ MTEX 4.4.alpha.3