diff --git a/IPython/core/release.py b/IPython/core/release.py
index ca3d34e..81a2849 100644
--- a/IPython/core/release.py
+++ b/IPython/core/release.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ name = 'ipython'
 _version_major = 0
 _version_minor = 12
 _version_micro = 1  # use '' for first of series, number for 1 and above
-_version_extra = 'rc1'
+_version_extra = 'rc2'
 #_version_extra = 'rc1'
 #_version_extra = ''  # Uncomment this for full releases