diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 2db0a7b..8e009aa 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company and Gardener contributors
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
-FROM gcr.io/etcd-development/etcd:v3.4.14
+FROM gcr.io/etcd-development/etcd:v3.5.0-alpha.0
 
 RUN apt update
 RUN apt install -y bash curl wget
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index a5d1d36..8149569 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-v3.4.14
+v3.5.0-alpha.0