diff --git a/config.yaml b/config.yaml
index 0e3756e4..e986b8de 100644
--- a/config.yaml
+++ b/config.yaml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ keywords: 'software, data, lesson, The Carpentries'
 
 # Life cycle stage of the lesson
 # possible values: pre-alpha, alpha, beta, stable
-life_cycle: 'alpha'
+life_cycle: 'pre-alpha'
 
 # License of the lesson materials (recommended CC-BY 4.0)
 license: 'CC-BY 4.0'