diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a32a80e409..6cec29c32e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "openlayers",
-  "version": "3.20.1",
+  "version": "3.21.0-beta.2",
   "description": "Build tools and sources for developing OpenLayers based mapping applications",
   "keywords": [
     "map",
diff --git a/tasks/publish.sh b/tasks/publish.sh
index 036adccad8..9097fa6bea 100755
--- a/tasks/publish.sh
+++ b/tasks/publish.sh
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ main() {
   npm install
   build_js ${PROFILES}
   build_css
-  npm publish
+  npm publish --tag beta
 }
 
 if test ${#} -ne 1; then