diff --git a/CHANGES.txt b/CHANGES.txt
index ca9b6b3b21..de4876f676 100644
--- a/CHANGES.txt
+++ b/CHANGES.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+4.0.3
+
+
 4.0.2
  * Full Java 11 support (CASSANDRA-16894)
  * Remove unused 'geomet' package from cqlsh path (CASSANDRA-17271)
diff --git a/build.xml b/build.xml
index b10619904e..9a5598f687 100644
--- a/build.xml
+++ b/build.xml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
     <property name="debuglevel" value="source,lines,vars"/>
 
     <!-- default version and SCM information -->
-    <property name="base.version" value="4.0.2"/>
+    <property name="base.version" value="4.0.3"/>
     <property name="scm.connection" value="scm:https://gitbox.apache.org/repos/asf/cassandra.git"/>
     <property name="scm.developerConnection" value="scm:https://gitbox.apache.org/repos/asf/cassandra.git"/>
     <property name="scm.url" value="https://gitbox.apache.org/repos/asf?p=cassandra.git;a=tree"/>
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index db2b2c5f4a..51bcc33408 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+cassandra (4.0.3) UNRELEASED; urgency=medium
+
+  * New release 
+
+ -- Mick Semb Wever <mck@apache.org>  Mon, 07 Feb 2022 14:42:07 +0100
+
 cassandra (4.0.2) unstable; urgency=medium
 
   * New release