diff --git a/packages/jsii-calc-lib/package.json b/packages/jsii-calc-lib/package.json
index fa1a64e915..d92fbd20e3 100644
--- a/packages/jsii-calc-lib/package.json
+++ b/packages/jsii-calc-lib/package.json
@@ -15,12 +15,13 @@
         "maven": {
           "groupId": "software.amazon.jsii.tests",
           "artifactId": "calculator-lib",
-          "versionSuffix": "devpreview"
+          "versionSuffix": ".DEVPREVIEW"
         }
       },
       "dotnet": {
         "namespace": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorNamespace.LibNamespace",
-        "packageId": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId"
+        "packageId": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId",
+        "versionSuffix": "-devpreview"
       },
       "python": {
         "distName": "scope.jsii-calc-lib",
diff --git a/packages/jsii-calc-lib/test/assembly.jsii b/packages/jsii-calc-lib/test/assembly.jsii
index d3f7b2564f..fe8a0c2ed3 100644
--- a/packages/jsii-calc-lib/test/assembly.jsii
+++ b/packages/jsii-calc-lib/test/assembly.jsii
@@ -100,13 +100,14 @@
   "targets": {
     "dotnet": {
       "namespace": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorNamespace.LibNamespace",
-      "packageId": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId"
+      "packageId": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId",
+      "versionSuffix": "-devpreview"
     },
     "java": {
       "maven": {
         "artifactId": "calculator-lib",
         "groupId": "software.amazon.jsii.tests",
-        "versionSuffix": "devpreview"
+        "versionSuffix": ".DEVPREVIEW"
       },
       "package": "software.amazon.jsii.tests.calculator.lib"
     },
@@ -541,5 +542,5 @@
     }
   },
   "version": "0.12.1",
-  "fingerprint": "MXSaKBVwpFalIulxHb3PUOMH4eKJJHPxI2u+zfEsbmA="
+  "fingerprint": "aQ66EJSs69SuXip1lDEBj6a1qwzN8+ThWgYp6Lq1Q8Y="
 }
diff --git a/packages/jsii-calc/test/assembly.jsii b/packages/jsii-calc/test/assembly.jsii
index 5510258156..cd35d429f8 100644
--- a/packages/jsii-calc/test/assembly.jsii
+++ b/packages/jsii-calc/test/assembly.jsii
@@ -86,13 +86,14 @@
       "targets": {
         "dotnet": {
           "namespace": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorNamespace.LibNamespace",
-          "packageId": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId"
+          "packageId": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId",
+          "versionSuffix": "-devpreview"
         },
         "java": {
           "maven": {
             "artifactId": "calculator-lib",
             "groupId": "software.amazon.jsii.tests",
-            "versionSuffix": "devpreview"
+            "versionSuffix": ".DEVPREVIEW"
           },
           "package": "software.amazon.jsii.tests.calculator.lib"
         },
@@ -161,13 +162,14 @@
       "targets": {
         "dotnet": {
           "namespace": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorNamespace.LibNamespace",
-          "packageId": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId"
+          "packageId": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId",
+          "versionSuffix": "-devpreview"
         },
         "java": {
           "maven": {
             "artifactId": "calculator-lib",
             "groupId": "software.amazon.jsii.tests",
-            "versionSuffix": "devpreview"
+            "versionSuffix": ".DEVPREVIEW"
           },
           "package": "software.amazon.jsii.tests.calculator.lib"
         },
@@ -8776,5 +8778,5 @@
     }
   },
   "version": "0.12.1",
-  "fingerprint": "AlSn00Q27h2jLbVq5Xtz97KdHszOYlZOq+al2FOvsWM="
+  "fingerprint": "eJFB3vFCc9pOmBGqLCLopXjumM3fvGhVp9zhFfty6xM="
 }
diff --git a/packages/jsii-dotnet-generator/src/Amazon.JSII.Generator/AssemblyExtensions.cs b/packages/jsii-dotnet-generator/src/Amazon.JSII.Generator/AssemblyExtensions.cs
index eaac8b5cc5..73226d70d9 100644
--- a/packages/jsii-dotnet-generator/src/Amazon.JSII.Generator/AssemblyExtensions.cs
+++ b/packages/jsii-dotnet-generator/src/Amazon.JSII.Generator/AssemblyExtensions.cs
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ public static IEnumerable<XElement> GetMsBuildProperties(this Assembly assembly)
             yield return new XElement("GeneratePackageOnBuild", true);
             yield return new XElement("IncludeSymbols", true);
             yield return new XElement("IncludeSource", true);
-            yield return new XElement("PackageVersion", assembly.Version);
+            yield return new XElement("PackageVersion", assembly.GetDecoratedVersion());
             yield return new XElement("PackageId", assembly.Targets.DotNet.PackageId);
             yield return new XElement("Description", GetDescription());
             yield return new XElement("ProjectUrl", assembly.Homepage);
diff --git a/packages/jsii-dotnet-generator/src/Amazon.JSII.Generator/AssemblyGenerator.cs b/packages/jsii-dotnet-generator/src/Amazon.JSII.Generator/AssemblyGenerator.cs
index 1038ea7d58..78a0f6a38e 100644
--- a/packages/jsii-dotnet-generator/src/Amazon.JSII.Generator/AssemblyGenerator.cs
+++ b/packages/jsii-dotnet-generator/src/Amazon.JSII.Generator/AssemblyGenerator.cs
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ void SaveProjectFile()
                             ),
                             GetDependencies()
                                 .Distinct()
-                                .Select(d => new { Package = symbols.GetAssemblyName(d.Key), d.Value.Version})
+                                .Select(d => new { Package = symbols.GetAssemblyName(d.Key), Version = d.Value.GetDecoratedVersion() })
                                 .Select(d =>
                                     new XElement("PackageReference",
                                         new XAttribute("Include", d.Package),
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ void SaveType(Type type)
                     case TypeKind.Class:
                     {
                         var classType = (ClassType) type;
-                        
+
                         if (classType.IsAbstract)
                         {
                             SaveTypeFile($"{symbols.GetAbstractClassProxyName(classType)}.cs",
diff --git a/packages/jsii-dotnet-generator/src/Amazon.JSII.Generator/VersionSuffixExtensions.cs b/packages/jsii-dotnet-generator/src/Amazon.JSII.Generator/VersionSuffixExtensions.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b647b5ca2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jsii-dotnet-generator/src/Amazon.JSII.Generator/VersionSuffixExtensions.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+using Amazon.JSII.JsonModel.Spec;
+
+namespace Amazon.JSII.Generator
+{
+    public static class VersionSuffixExtensions
+    {
+        public static string GetDecoratedVersion(this Assembly assembly)
+        {
+            return MakeDecoratedVersion(assembly.Version, assembly.Targets?.DotNet?.VersionSuffix);
+        }
+
+        public static string GetDecoratedVersion(this PackageVersion package)
+        {
+            return MakeDecoratedVersion(package.Version, package.Targets?.DotNet?.VersionSuffix);
+        }
+
+        private static string MakeDecoratedVersion(string version, string suffix)
+        {
+            if (suffix == null)
+            {
+                return version;
+            }
+            // suffix is guaranteed to start with a leading `-`
+            return $"{version}{suffix}";
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/packages/jsii-dotnet-jsonmodel/src/Amazon.JSII.JsonModel/Spec/AssemblyTargets.cs b/packages/jsii-dotnet-jsonmodel/src/Amazon.JSII.JsonModel/Spec/AssemblyTargets.cs
index 77ff8467b0..9e9ad114f0 100644
--- a/packages/jsii-dotnet-jsonmodel/src/Amazon.JSII.JsonModel/Spec/AssemblyTargets.cs
+++ b/packages/jsii-dotnet-jsonmodel/src/Amazon.JSII.JsonModel/Spec/AssemblyTargets.cs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ public AssemblyTargets(DotNetTarget dotnet, IDictionary<string, object> others =
 
         [JsonProperty("dotnet", NullValueHandling = NullValueHandling.Ignore)]
         public DotNetTarget DotNet { get; }
-        
+
         [JsonObject(MemberSerialization = MemberSerialization.OptIn)]
         public class DotNetTarget
         {
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ public DotNetTarget
                 string title = null,
                 bool signAssembly = false,
                 string assemblyOriginatorKeyFile = null,
-                string iconUrl = null
+                string iconUrl = null,
+                string versionSuffix = null
             )
             {
                 Namespace = @namespace ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(@namespace));
@@ -35,8 +36,14 @@ public DotNetTarget
                 SignAssembly = signAssembly;
                 AssemblyOriginatorKeyFile = assemblyOriginatorKeyFile;
                 IconUrl = iconUrl;
+                VersionSuffix = versionSuffix;
+
+                if (VersionSuffix != null && !VersionSuffix.StartsWith("-"))
+                {
+                    throw new ArgumentException($"{nameof(versionSuffix)} must start with a '-' (received {versionSuffix})");
+                }
             }
-            
+
             [JsonProperty("namespace")]
             public string Namespace { get; }
 
@@ -54,6 +61,9 @@ public DotNetTarget
 
             [JsonProperty("iconUrl", NullValueHandling = NullValueHandling.Ignore)]
             public string IconUrl { get; }
-        }
+
+            [JsonProperty("versionSuffix", NullValueHandling = NullValueHandling.Ignore)]
+            public string VersionSuffix { get; }
+    }
     }
 }
diff --git a/packages/jsii-kernel/test/test.kernel.ts b/packages/jsii-kernel/test/test.kernel.ts
index acea505182..be056157f4 100644
--- a/packages/jsii-kernel/test/test.kernel.ts
+++ b/packages/jsii-kernel/test/test.kernel.ts
@@ -248,11 +248,12 @@ defineTest('naming allows returns the module name for different languages', asyn
     test.deepEqual(sandbox.naming({ assembly: '@scope/jsii-calc-lib' }).naming, {
         dotnet: {
             namespace: 'Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorNamespace.LibNamespace',
-            packageId: 'Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId'
+            packageId: 'Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId',
+            versionSuffix: '-devpreview'
         },
         java: {
             package: 'software.amazon.jsii.tests.calculator.lib',
-            maven: { groupId: 'software.amazon.jsii.tests', artifactId: 'calculator-lib', versionSuffix: 'devpreview' },
+            maven: { groupId: 'software.amazon.jsii.tests', artifactId: 'calculator-lib', versionSuffix: '.DEVPREVIEW' },
         },
         js: { npm: '@scope/jsii-calc-lib' },
         python: { distName: 'scope.jsii-calc-lib', module: 'scope.jsii_calc_lib' },
diff --git a/packages/jsii-pacmak/lib/targets/java.ts b/packages/jsii-pacmak/lib/targets/java.ts
index 473e0e447a..2fc4fb99fc 100644
--- a/packages/jsii-pacmak/lib/targets/java.ts
+++ b/packages/jsii-pacmak/lib/targets/java.ts
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ class JavaGenerator extends Generator {
         function makeVersion(version: string, suffix?: string): string {
             if (!suffix) { return version; }
             if (!suffix.startsWith('-') && !suffix.startsWith('.')) {
-                return `${version}-${suffix}`;
+                throw new Error(`versionSuffix must start with '-' or '.', but received ${suffix}`);
             }
             return `${version}${suffix}`;
         }
diff --git a/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc-lib/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId/.jsii b/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc-lib/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId/.jsii
index d3f7b2564f..fe8a0c2ed3 100644
--- a/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc-lib/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId/.jsii
+++ b/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc-lib/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId/.jsii
@@ -100,13 +100,14 @@
   "targets": {
     "dotnet": {
       "namespace": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorNamespace.LibNamespace",
-      "packageId": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId"
+      "packageId": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId",
+      "versionSuffix": "-devpreview"
     },
     "java": {
       "maven": {
         "artifactId": "calculator-lib",
         "groupId": "software.amazon.jsii.tests",
-        "versionSuffix": "devpreview"
+        "versionSuffix": ".DEVPREVIEW"
       },
       "package": "software.amazon.jsii.tests.calculator.lib"
     },
@@ -541,5 +542,5 @@
     }
   },
   "version": "0.12.1",
-  "fingerprint": "MXSaKBVwpFalIulxHb3PUOMH4eKJJHPxI2u+zfEsbmA="
+  "fingerprint": "aQ66EJSs69SuXip1lDEBj6a1qwzN8+ThWgYp6Lq1Q8Y="
 }
diff --git a/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc-lib/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId.csproj b/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc-lib/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId.csproj
index a851b8f691..c3ebac8442 100644
--- a/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc-lib/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId.csproj
+++ b/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc-lib/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId.csproj
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     <GeneratePackageOnBuild>true</GeneratePackageOnBuild>
     <IncludeSymbols>true</IncludeSymbols>
     <IncludeSource>true</IncludeSource>
-    <PackageVersion>0.12.1</PackageVersion>
+    <PackageVersion>0.12.1-devpreview</PackageVersion>
     <PackageId>Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId</PackageId>
     <Description>A simple calcuator library built on JSII. (Stability: Deprecated)</Description>
     <ProjectUrl>https://github.com/awslabs/jsii.git</ProjectUrl>
diff --git a/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc-lib/java/pom.xml b/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc-lib/java/pom.xml
index ecd5d7ccf7..7d41e39b29 100644
--- a/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc-lib/java/pom.xml
+++ b/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc-lib/java/pom.xml
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
   </scm>
   <groupId>software.amazon.jsii.tests</groupId>
   <artifactId>calculator-lib</artifactId>
-  <version>0.12.1-devpreview</version>
+  <version>0.12.1.DEVPREVIEW</version>
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
diff --git a/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId/.jsii b/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId/.jsii
index 5510258156..cd35d429f8 100644
--- a/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId/.jsii
+++ b/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId/.jsii
@@ -86,13 +86,14 @@
       "targets": {
         "dotnet": {
           "namespace": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorNamespace.LibNamespace",
-          "packageId": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId"
+          "packageId": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId",
+          "versionSuffix": "-devpreview"
         },
         "java": {
           "maven": {
             "artifactId": "calculator-lib",
             "groupId": "software.amazon.jsii.tests",
-            "versionSuffix": "devpreview"
+            "versionSuffix": ".DEVPREVIEW"
           },
           "package": "software.amazon.jsii.tests.calculator.lib"
         },
@@ -161,13 +162,14 @@
       "targets": {
         "dotnet": {
           "namespace": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorNamespace.LibNamespace",
-          "packageId": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId"
+          "packageId": "Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId",
+          "versionSuffix": "-devpreview"
         },
         "java": {
           "maven": {
             "artifactId": "calculator-lib",
             "groupId": "software.amazon.jsii.tests",
-            "versionSuffix": "devpreview"
+            "versionSuffix": ".DEVPREVIEW"
           },
           "package": "software.amazon.jsii.tests.calculator.lib"
         },
@@ -8776,5 +8778,5 @@
     }
   },
   "version": "0.12.1",
-  "fingerprint": "AlSn00Q27h2jLbVq5Xtz97KdHszOYlZOq+al2FOvsWM="
+  "fingerprint": "eJFB3vFCc9pOmBGqLCLopXjumM3fvGhVp9zhFfty6xM="
 }
diff --git a/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.csproj b/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.csproj
index a26de52753..31c378f147 100644
--- a/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.csproj
+++ b/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc/dotnet/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId/Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.csproj
@@ -19,6 +19,6 @@
     <PackageReference Include="Amazon.JSII.Runtime" Version="0.12.1" />
     <PackageReference Include="Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.BasePackageId" Version="0.12.1" />
     <PackageReference Include="Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.BaseOfBasePackageId" Version="0.12.1" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId" Version="0.12.1" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Amazon.JSII.Tests.CalculatorPackageId.LibPackageId" Version="0.12.1-devpreview" />
   </ItemGroup>
 </Project>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc/java/pom.xml b/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc/java/pom.xml
index 957fe3a212..9a4916e512 100644
--- a/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc/java/pom.xml
+++ b/packages/jsii-pacmak/test/expected.jsii-calc/java/pom.xml
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
     <dependency>
       <groupId>software.amazon.jsii.tests</groupId>
       <artifactId>calculator-lib</artifactId>
-      <version>0.12.1-devpreview</version>
+      <version>0.12.1.DEVPREVIEW</version>
     </dependency>
     <dependency>
       <groupId>software.amazon.jsii</groupId>