diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index af6210d48836..b4019426fa25 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 VERSION = 2
 PATCHLEVEL = 6
-SUBLEVEL = 16
-EXTRAVERSION =
+SUBLEVEL = 17
+EXTRAVERSION =-rc1
 NAME=Sliding Snow Leopard
 
 # *DOCUMENTATION*