diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 63e733c1..57d8c0bd 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
     <properties>
         <!-- Pinned versions, as RELEASE would make it into the published pom.xml -->
         <rewrite.version>8.36.0</rewrite.version>
-        <rewrite.kotlin.version>1.20.0</rewrite.kotlin.version>
+        <rewrite.kotlin.version>1.21.0-SNAPSHOT</rewrite.kotlin.version>
 
         <!-- using 'ssh' url scheme by default, which assumes a human is performing git operations leveraging an ssh key -->
         <developerConnectionUrl>scm:git:ssh://git@github.com/openrewrite/rewrite-maven-plugin.git