diff --git a/test/endtoend/backup_restore_test.sh b/test/endtoend/backup_restore_test.sh
index fd6c71d2a..0a68e98fb 100755
--- a/test/endtoend/backup_restore_test.sh
+++ b/test/endtoend/backup_restore_test.sh
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ setupKindCluster
 cd test/endtoend/operator || exit 1
 
 get_started "operator-latest.yaml" "101_initial_cluster_backup.yaml"
-verifyVtGateVersion "23.0.0"
+verifyVtGateVersion "23.0.0-rc1"
 checkSemiSyncSetup
 takeBackup "commerce/-"
 verifyListBackupsOutput
diff --git a/test/endtoend/backup_schedule_test.sh b/test/endtoend/backup_schedule_test.sh
index eb20ff61d..fad8a027e 100755
--- a/test/endtoend/backup_schedule_test.sh
+++ b/test/endtoend/backup_schedule_test.sh
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ setupKindCluster
 cd test/endtoend/operator || exit 1
 
 get_started "operator-latest.yaml" "101_initial_cluster_backup_schedule.yaml"
-verifyVtGateVersion "23.0.0"
+verifyVtGateVersion "23.0.0-rc1"
 checkSemiSyncSetup
 verifyListBackupsOutputWithSchedule
 
diff --git a/test/endtoend/hpa_test.sh b/test/endtoend/hpa_test.sh
index 30cf23d2b..b6cbbb4b2 100755
--- a/test/endtoend/hpa_test.sh
+++ b/test/endtoend/hpa_test.sh
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ setupKindCluster
 cd test/endtoend/operator || exit 1
 
 get_started "operator-latest.yaml" "101_initial_cluster_autoscale.yaml"
-verifyVtGateVersion "23.0.0"
+verifyVtGateVersion "23.0.0-rc1"
 checkSemiSyncSetup
 
 verifyHpaCount 0
diff --git a/test/endtoend/upgrade_test.sh b/test/endtoend/upgrade_test.sh
index 798e609f4..56fe90be3 100755
--- a/test/endtoend/upgrade_test.sh
+++ b/test/endtoend/upgrade_test.sh
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ checkSemiSyncSetup
 # Initially too durability policy should be specified
 verifyDurabilityPolicy "commerce" "semi_sync"
 upgradeToLatest
-verifyVtGateVersion "23.0.0"
+verifyVtGateVersion "23.0.0-rc1"
 verifyResourceSpec
 checkSemiSyncSetup
 # After upgrading, we verify that the durability policy is still semi_sync
diff --git a/test/endtoend/vtorc_vtadmin_test.sh b/test/endtoend/vtorc_vtadmin_test.sh
index 2c48f2e95..51d0f1fc8 100755
--- a/test/endtoend/vtorc_vtadmin_test.sh
+++ b/test/endtoend/vtorc_vtadmin_test.sh
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ setupKindCluster
 cd test/endtoend/operator || exit 1
 
 get_started_vtorc_vtadmin
-verifyVtGateVersion "23.0.0"
+verifyVtGateVersion "23.0.0-rc1"
 checkSemiSyncSetup
 
 # Check Vtadmin is setup
diff --git a/version/version.go b/version/version.go
index f3457060a..292923225 100644
--- a/version/version.go
+++ b/version/version.go
@@ -20,5 +20,5 @@ package version
 // THIS FILE IS AUTO-GENERATED DURING NEW RELEASES BY THE VITESS-RELEASER
 
 var (
-	Version = "2.16.0-rc1"
+	Version = "2.16.0"
 )