diff --git a/.github/workflows/checks.yml b/.github/workflows/checks.yml
index 7051784..b64b59e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/checks.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/checks.yml
@@ -97,3 +97,13 @@ jobs:
         with:
           command: fmt
           args: --all -- --check
+
+  semver-checks:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    name: "Cargo Semver Checks"
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: obi1kenobi/cargo-semver-checks-action@v2
+        with:
+          # exclude the binary package from semver checks, since it is not published as a crate.
+          exclude: taskchampion-sync-server
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index b8685a5..eaf24ef 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1417,7 +1417,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "taskchampion-sync-server-core"
-version = "0.4.1"
+version = "0.5.0-pre"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "chrono",
@@ -1429,7 +1429,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "taskchampion-sync-server-storage-sqlite"
-version = "0.4.1"
+version = "0.5.0-pre"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "chrono",
diff --git a/core/Cargo.toml b/core/Cargo.toml
index 61c0a9d..4a2f614 100644
--- a/core/Cargo.toml
+++ b/core/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 [package]
 name = "taskchampion-sync-server-core"
-version = "0.4.1"
+version = "0.5.0-pre"
 authors = ["Dustin J. Mitchell <dustin@mozilla.com>"]
 edition = "2021"
+description = "Core of sync protocol for TaskChampion"
+license = "MIT"
 
 [dependencies]
 uuid.workspace = true
diff --git a/sqlite/Cargo.toml b/sqlite/Cargo.toml
index 96d402b..7187891 100644
--- a/sqlite/Cargo.toml
+++ b/sqlite/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 [package]
 name = "taskchampion-sync-server-storage-sqlite"
-version = "0.4.1"
+version = "0.5.0-pre"
 authors = ["Dustin J. Mitchell <dustin@mozilla.com>"]
 edition = "2021"
+description = "SQLite backend for TaskChampion-sync-server"
+license = "MIT"
 
 [dependencies]
-taskchampion-sync-server-core = { path = "../core" }
+taskchampion-sync-server-core = { path = "../core", version = "0.5.0-pre" }
 uuid.workspace = true
 anyhow.workspace = true
 thiserror.workspace = true