diff --git a/packages/grpc-native-core/binding.gyp b/packages/grpc-native-core/binding.gyp
index 4ddd85183..3aa86a0ea 100644
--- a/packages/grpc-native-core/binding.gyp
+++ b/packages/grpc-native-core/binding.gyp
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
       'GPR_BACKWARDS_COMPATIBILITY_MODE',
       'GRPC_ARES=0',
       'GRPC_UV',
-      'GRPC_NODE_VERSION="1.20.3"'
+      'GRPC_NODE_VERSION="1.21.0-pre1"'
     ],
     'defines!': [
       'OPENSSL_THREADS'
diff --git a/packages/grpc-native-core/build.yaml b/packages/grpc-native-core/build.yaml
index 74cb99d9d..49e36fdfe 100644
--- a/packages/grpc-native-core/build.yaml
+++ b/packages/grpc-native-core/build.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,2 @@
 settings:
   '#': It's possible to have node_version here as a key to override the core's version.
-  node_version: 1.20.3
diff --git a/packages/grpc-native-core/package.json b/packages/grpc-native-core/package.json
index 9a1a22c75..2b20081f5 100644
--- a/packages/grpc-native-core/package.json
+++ b/packages/grpc-native-core/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "grpc",
-  "version": "1.20.3",
+  "version": "1.21.0-pre1",
   "author": "Google Inc.",
   "description": "gRPC Library for Node",
   "homepage": "https://grpc.io/",