diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 019f3c4..4671119 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.20)
 
-project(LogLens VERSION 0.5.0 LANGUAGES CXX)
+project(LogLens VERSION 0.6.0 LANGUAGES CXX)
+
+set(
+    LOGLENS_VERSION_SUFFIX
+    "-dev"
+    CACHE STRING
+    "Prerelease suffix appended to the LogLens project version"
+)
+set(LOGLENS_VERSION "${PROJECT_VERSION}${LOGLENS_VERSION_SUFFIX}")
 
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 20)
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)
@@ -35,7 +43,7 @@ target_include_directories(loglens_lib
 
 add_executable(loglens src/main.cpp)
 target_link_libraries(loglens PRIVATE loglens_lib)
-target_compile_definitions(loglens PRIVATE LOGLENS_VERSION="${PROJECT_VERSION}")
+target_compile_definitions(loglens PRIVATE LOGLENS_VERSION="${LOGLENS_VERSION}")
 
 include(CTest)
 if(BUILD_TESTING)
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.cpp b/tests/test_cli.cpp
index e791a1b..cc082b8 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_cli.cpp
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
         &version_stderr)
                                              .c_str());
     expect(version_exit == 0, "expected --version to succeed");
-    expect(read_file(version_stdout) == "LogLens 0.5.0\n",
+    expect(read_file(version_stdout) == "LogLens 0.6.0-dev\n",
            "expected --version to print project version to stdout");
     expect(read_file(version_stderr).empty(), "expected --version to keep stderr empty");