diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 675d011..884b7d9 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0+
 
 VERSION = 2018
-PATCHLEVEL = 07
+PATCHLEVEL = 09
 SUBLEVEL =
-EXTRAVERSION =
+EXTRAVERSION = -rc1
 NAME =
 
 # *DOCUMENTATION*