diff --git a/django/__init__.py b/django/__init__.py
index 03e2a2aa52..f6a5a5fa6f 100644
--- a/django/__init__.py
+++ b/django/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-VERSION = (1, 3, 0, 'beta', 1)
+VERSION = (1, 3, 0, 'rc', 1)
 
 def get_version():
     version = '%s.%s' % (VERSION[0], VERSION[1])
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 3ede666dc4..2297ab0ffe 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ setup(
     author = 'Django Software Foundation',
     author_email = 'foundation@djangoproject.com',
     description = 'A high-level Python Web framework that encourages rapid development and clean, pragmatic design.',
-    download_url = 'http://media.djangoproject.com/releases/1.3/Django-1.3-beta-1.tar.gz',
+    download_url = 'http://media.djangoproject.com/releases/1.3/Django-1.3-rc-1.tar.gz',
     packages = packages,
     cmdclass = cmdclasses,
     data_files = data_files,