diff --git a/ext/psych/lib/psych/versions.rb b/ext/psych/lib/psych/versions.rb
index e1cc3e4dcc..b7e55d360d 100644
--- a/ext/psych/lib/psych/versions.rb
+++ b/ext/psych/lib/psych/versions.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 module Psych
   # The version is Psych you're using
-  VERSION ||= '3.1.0.pre1'
+  VERSION = '3.1.0.pre1'
 
   if RUBY_ENGINE == 'jruby'
     DEFAULT_SNAKEYAML_VERSION = '1.21'.freeze