diff --git a/docs/extensions/release_notes.py b/docs/extensions/release_notes.py
index f6166c748..a0421e919 100644
--- a/docs/extensions/release_notes.py
+++ b/docs/extensions/release_notes.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     from sphinx.application import Sphinx
 
 
-FULL_VERSION_RE = re.compile(r"^(\d+)\.(\d+)\.(\d+)(?:\.dev.*)?$")
+FULL_VERSION_RE = re.compile(r"^(\d+)\.(\d+)\.(\d+)(?:(\.dev.*)|(rc.*))?$")
 
 
 class ReleaseNotes(SphinxDirective):