diff --git a/doc/conf.py b/doc/conf.py
index 4b8609e5ec01..3d631baed199 100644
--- a/doc/conf.py
+++ b/doc/conf.py
@@ -339,7 +339,11 @@ def matplotlib_reduced_latex_scraper(block, block_vars, gallery_conf,
     "switcher": {
         "json_url": "https://matplotlib.org/devdocs/_static/switcher.json",
         "url_template": "https://matplotlib.org/{version}/",
-        "version_match": version,
+        "version_match": (
+            # The start version to show. This must be in switcher.json.
+            # We either go to 'stable' or to 'devdocs'
+            'stable' if matplotlib.__version_info__.releaselevel == 'final'
+            else 'devdocs')
     },
     "navbar_end": ["version-switcher", "mpl_icon_links"]
 }