diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index cd3fc26d..95a64a47 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "harvester-ui-extension",
-  "version": "1.8.0-rc2",
+  "version": "1.8.0-rc3",
   "private": false,
   "engines": {
     "node": ">=20.0.0"
diff --git a/pkg/harvester/package.json b/pkg/harvester/package.json
index 1ccd8040..364f286a 100644
--- a/pkg/harvester/package.json
+++ b/pkg/harvester/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "harvester",
   "description": "Rancher UI Extension for Harvester",
-  "version": "1.8.0-rc2",
+  "version": "1.8.0-rc3",
   "private": false,
   "rancher": {
     "annotations": {
diff --git a/scripts/bump_version.sh b/scripts/bump_version.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..8897b838
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/bump_version.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -e
+# Usage: update package.json and pkg/harvester/package.json to desired version
+# Example: ./scripts/bump_version.sh v1.8.0-rc3
+
+VERSION="$1"
+
+if [ -z "$VERSION" ]; then
+  echo "Usage: $0 <version>"
+  echo "Example: $0 v1.8.0-rc3"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+# Strip leading 'v' if present
+VERSION="${VERSION#v}"
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+ROOT_DIR="$(cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/.." && pwd)"
+
+FILES=(
+  "$ROOT_DIR/package.json"
+  "$ROOT_DIR/pkg/harvester/package.json"
+)
+
+for FILE in "${FILES[@]}"; do
+  if [ ! -f "$FILE" ]; then
+    echo "File not found: $FILE"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  # Use node to update version in-place while preserving formatting
+  node -e "
+    const fs = require('fs');
+    const raw = fs.readFileSync('$FILE', 'utf8');
+    const updated = raw.replace(/\"version\":\s*\"[^\"]*\"/, '\"version\": \"$VERSION\"');
+    fs.writeFileSync('$FILE', updated);
+  "
+
+  echo "Updated $FILE -> $VERSION"
+done