diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index b44efde92ba..ed0c4b57704 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 MYSQL_VERSION_MAJOR=5
 MYSQL_VERSION_MINOR=5
 MYSQL_VERSION_PATCH=33
-MYSQL_VERSION_EXTRA=
+MYSQL_VERSION_EXTRA=a