diff --git a/dim/CHANGES b/dim/CHANGES
index 0bb36d3..b0f25e2 100644
--- a/dim/CHANGES
+++ b/dim/CHANGES
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
-to be released
-------
+unreleased
+----------
+
+
+5.1.0rc1
+--------
 * added ldap pseudo user sync to manage_dim (introduces is_pseudo column, LDAP_PSEUDO_USER_BASE, LDAP_BIND_DN, and LDAP_BIND_PASSWORD configurations)
 * added automated database schema mismatch verification check on application startup
+* also bumped ndcli to 5.1.0rc1
 * reject attribute names containing colons during deletion to prevent silent failure from incorrect key-value input
 * fix revoking attribute rights on pools when utilizing trailing dots or prefix strings
 * add support for ALIAS resource records (coexists with other types at zone apex, mutually exclusive with CNAME, disabled in DNSSEC-enabled zones)
diff --git a/dim/dim/version.py b/dim/dim/version.py
index ff00484..fa6d165 100644
--- a/dim/dim/version.py
+++ b/dim/dim/version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-VERSION = '5.0.2'
+VERSION = '5.1.0rc1'
diff --git a/dim/doc/conf.py b/dim/doc/conf.py
index 1f0a430..7e1d37d 100644
--- a/dim/doc/conf.py
+++ b/dim/doc/conf.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 # built documents.
 #
 # The short X.Y version.
-version = '5.0.2'
+version = '5.1.0rc1'
 # The full version, including alpha/beta/rc tags.
 release = version
 
diff --git a/dim/pyproject.toml b/dim/pyproject.toml
index 9ba6c63..4199a0d 100644
--- a/dim/pyproject.toml
+++ b/dim/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 [project]
 name = "dimserver"
-version = "5.0.2"
+version = "5.1.0rc1"
 maintainers = [
-  { name = "zerimond" },
+  { name = "eschweikert" },
 ]
 description = "DNS and IP management Python server"
 requires-python = ">=3.9"
diff --git a/ndcli/CHANGES b/ndcli/CHANGES
index dd11299..0734f30 100644
--- a/ndcli/CHANGES
+++ b/ndcli/CHANGES
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 unreleased
 ----------
+
+5.1.0rc1
+--------
 * add support for ALIAS resource records (create, delete, modify, show)
 * add support for DNAME resource records (create, delete, modify, show, and zone import)
 * add tree view and filtering rendering mode to `list containers` command (`-T`/`--tree`, `-p`/`--pattern`, `-c`/`--case-sensitive`, `--no-color`)
diff --git a/ndcli/dimcli/version.py b/ndcli/dimcli/version.py
index 0fcb84f..fa6d165 100644
--- a/ndcli/dimcli/version.py
+++ b/ndcli/dimcli/version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-VERSION = '5.0.4'
+VERSION = '5.1.0rc1'
diff --git a/ndcli/doc/conf.py b/ndcli/doc/conf.py
index e59112f..1097eae 100644
--- a/ndcli/doc/conf.py
+++ b/ndcli/doc/conf.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 # built documents.
 #
 # The short X.Y version.
-version = '5.0.4'
+version = '5.1.0rc1'
 # The full version, including alpha/beta/rc tags.
 release = version
 
diff --git a/ndcli/pyproject.toml b/ndcli/pyproject.toml
index e278f21..c18e0af 100644
--- a/ndcli/pyproject.toml
+++ b/ndcli/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 [project]
 name = "dimclient-cli"
-version = "5.0.4"
+version = "5.1.0rc1"
 maintainers = [
-  { name = "zerimond" },
+  { name = "eschweikert" },
 ]
 description = "DNS and IP management Python CLI client"
 readme = "README.md"