diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 2ef30427a..2424b6174 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   "repository": "https://www.github.com/nos/client",
   "author": "nOS",
   "homepage": "https://nos.io",
-  "version": "0.6.0",
+  "version": "0.6.0-rc.1",
   "private": true,
   "main": "dist/main/main.js",
   "license": "MIT",
diff --git a/src/main/index.js b/src/main/index.js
index efe5215e6..3f7a6903b 100644
--- a/src/main/index.js
+++ b/src/main/index.js
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import injectHeaders from './util/injectHeaders';
 import installExtensions from './util/installExtensions';
 import registerNosProtocol from './util/registerNosProtocol';
 
+import pkg from '../../package.json';
+
 // This wouldn't be necessary if we could call `electron-webpack` directly.  But since we have to
 // use webpack-cli (as a result of using a custom webpack config), we are faking this env var
 // already being assigned.
@@ -95,7 +97,14 @@ function createSplashWindow() {
   splashWindow.once('ready-to-show', () => {
     splashWindow.show();
 
-    if (isDev) {
+    const pkgVersion = pkg.version.toLowerCase();
+
+    if (
+      isDev ||
+      pkgVersion.includes('rc') ||
+      pkgVersion.includes('beta') ||
+      pkgVersion.includes('alpha')
+    ) {
       createMainWindow();
     } else {
       autoUpdater.allowPrerelease = false;