diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index ef1fa80..2f96e94 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+import org.ajoberstar.gradle.git.release.semver.*
+import org.ajoberstar.gradle.git.release.opinion.Strategies
+
 plugins {
     id 'java'
     id 'de.gliderpilot.semantic-release' version '1.2.0'
@@ -23,6 +26,19 @@ artifacts {
     sourcesJar
     javadocJar
 }
+release {
+    // add a second strategy to create release candidates from 'rc/.*' branches
+    versionStrategy semanticRelease.releaseStrategy.copyWith(
+        // the type is important, without type you would again replace the default strategy
+        type: 'rc',
+        selector: { SemVerStrategyState state ->
+            !state.repoDirty && state.currentBranch.name ==~ /rc\/.*/ &&
+                    semanticRelease.semanticStrategy.canRelease(state) && project.gradle.startParameter.taskNames.find { it == 'release' }
+        },
+        preReleaseStrategy: StrategyUtil.all({ it.copyWith(inferredPreRelease: 'rc') } as PartialSemVerStrategy, Strategies.PreRelease.COUNT_INCREMENTED)
+    )
+
+}
 semanticRelease {
     repo {
         ghToken = project.ext.ghToken