diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 2f1b70a7af..2489fb9057 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "pygame-ce"
-version = "2.5.3.dev2"
+version = "2.5.4.dev1"
 description = "Python Game Development"
 readme = "README.rst" # for long description
 requires-python = ">=3.9"