diff --git a/.github/release-please.yml b/.github/release-please.yml
index 2035ffc07..9d111e595 100644
--- a/.github/release-please.yml
+++ b/.github/release-please.yml
@@ -6,5 +6,10 @@ branches:
     handleGHRelease: true
     releaseType: java-yoshi
     branch: java7
+  - bumpMinorPreMajor: true
+    handleGHRelease: true
+    releaseType: java-yoshi
+    branch: protobuf-4.x-rc
+    manifest: true
 extraFiles:
   - src/main/java/com/google/cloud/logging/logback/LoggingAppender.java