diff --git a/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.txt b/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.txt
index d69a5df..939ca30 100644
--- a/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.txt
+++ b/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.txt
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ library version.  Generally, unless we're doing a major release, change:
 to
 	VERSION x.y+1.z
 
+        Update the version in meson.build (both at the top, and down under
+        '# Build library')
+
     git commit -a -m "Bump version to ${release}"
 
 If we're doing a major release (SONAME bump), also bump the version
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index c77265a..5e658c7 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-project('json-c', 'c', version: '0.18.99',
+project('json-c', 'c', version: '0.19.99',
   meson_version: '>=0.54.0',
   license: 'MIT',
   default_options: ['buildtype=release', 'warning_level=2'])
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ libjson = library('json-c',
   dependencies: libjson_deps,
   install: true,
   link_args: sym,
-  version: '5.4.0',
+  version: '5.5.0',
   soversion: '5',
 )