diff --git a/.version b/.version
index 9666266be..9f108a864 100644
--- a/.version
+++ b/.version
@@ -1 +1 @@
-25.12rc1
+v25.12rc1
diff --git a/contrib/pyln-client/pyln/client/__init__.py b/contrib/pyln-client/pyln/client/__init__.py
index 5a328e6cc..4594cf0cc 100644
--- a/contrib/pyln-client/pyln/client/__init__.py
+++ b/contrib/pyln-client/pyln/client/__init__.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from .gossmap import Gossmap, GossmapNode, GossmapChannel, GossmapHalfchannel, G
 from .gossmapstats import GossmapStats
 from .version import NodeVersion
 
-__version__ = "25.12rc1"
+__version__ = "v25.12rc1"
 
 __all__ = [
     "LightningRpc",
diff --git a/contrib/pyln-client/pyproject.toml b/contrib/pyln-client/pyproject.toml
index 62825549e..820081027 100644
--- a/contrib/pyln-client/pyproject.toml
+++ b/contrib/pyln-client/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "pyln-client"
-version = "25.12rc1"
+version = "v25.12rc1"
 description = "Client library and plugin library for Core Lightning"
 authors = [{ name = "Christian Decker", email = "decker.christian@gmail.com" }]
 license = { text = "BSD-MIT" }
diff --git a/contrib/pyln-proto/pyln/proto/__init__.py b/contrib/pyln-proto/pyln/proto/__init__.py
index 6e0b0f9c3..da04ce5d1 100644
--- a/contrib/pyln-proto/pyln/proto/__init__.py
+++ b/contrib/pyln-proto/pyln/proto/__init__.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from .invoice import Invoice
 from .onion import OnionPayload, TlvPayload, LegacyOnionPayload
 from .wire import LightningConnection, LightningServerSocket
 
-__version__ = "25.12rc1"
+__version__ = "v25.12rc1"
 
 __all__ = [
     "Invoice",
diff --git a/contrib/pyln-proto/pyproject.toml b/contrib/pyln-proto/pyproject.toml
index 5156e4c8d..520ed51e0 100644
--- a/contrib/pyln-proto/pyproject.toml
+++ b/contrib/pyln-proto/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "pyln-proto"
-version = "25.12rc1"
+version = "v25.12rc1"
 description = "This package implements some of the Lightning Network protocol in pure python. It is intended for protocol testing and some minor tooling only. It is not deemed secure enough to handle any amount of real funds (you have been warned!)."
 authors = [
     {name = "Christian Decker", email = "decker.christian@gmail.com"}
diff --git a/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/__init__.py b/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/__init__.py
index 948b3608e..d8aa46653 100644
--- a/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/__init__.py
+++ b/contrib/pyln-testing/pyln/testing/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-__version__ = "25.12rc1"
+__version__ = "v25.12rc1"
 
 __all__ = [
     "__version__",
diff --git a/contrib/pyln-testing/pyproject.toml b/contrib/pyln-testing/pyproject.toml
index 48d857406..8410ceb96 100644
--- a/contrib/pyln-testing/pyproject.toml
+++ b/contrib/pyln-testing/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "pyln-testing"
-version = "25.12rc1"
+version = "v25.12rc1"
 description = "Test your Core Lightning integration, plugins or whatever you want"
 authors = [{ name = "Christian Decker", email = "decker.christian@gmail.com" }]
 license = { text = "BSD-MIT" }
diff --git a/tools/reckless b/tools/reckless
index 761a2bbe1..f3d96760e 100755
--- a/tools/reckless
+++ b/tools/reckless
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from urllib.error import HTTPError
 import venv
 
 
-__VERSION__ = '25.12rc1'
+__VERSION__ = 'v25.12rc1'
 
 logging.basicConfig(
     level=logging.INFO,