diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 00a6f89..54025f9 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@
 buildscript {
   ext {
     opensearch_group = "org.opensearch"
-    opensearch_version = System.getProperty("opensearch.version", "3.0.0-SNAPSHOT")
+    opensearch_version = System.getProperty("opensearch.version", "3.0.0-alpha1-SNAPSHOT")
     isSnapshot = "true" == System.getProperty("build.snapshot", "true")
-    buildVersionQualifier = System.getProperty("build.version_qualifier", "")
+    buildVersionQualifier = System.getProperty("build.version_qualifier", "alpha1")
   }
 
   repositories {
diff --git a/bwc-test/build.gradle b/bwc-test/build.gradle
index 397cbf5..bed34fe 100644
--- a/bwc-test/build.gradle
+++ b/bwc-test/build.gradle
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ ext {
 
 buildscript {
     ext {
-        opensearch_version = System.getProperty("opensearch.version", "3.0.0-SNAPSHOT")
+        opensearch_version = System.getProperty("opensearch.version", "3.0.0-alpha1-SNAPSHOT")
         opensearch_group = "org.opensearch"
     }
     repositories {