diff --git a/NEWS.rst b/NEWS.rst
index 879a8d5..6b43320 100644
--- a/NEWS.rst
+++ b/NEWS.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 Release History
 ---------------
 
+0.5.3 (not yet released)
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+* TBD
+
 0.5.2 (2016-05-02)
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
diff --git a/VERSION.txt b/VERSION.txt
index cb0c939..0c3c98b 100644
--- a/VERSION.txt
+++ b/VERSION.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.5.2
+0.5.3.dev0