diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 74567b0ec2f081..e811e0c509c5b9 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 VERSION = 4
-PATCHLEVEL = 16
+PATCHLEVEL = 17
 SUBLEVEL = 0
-EXTRAVERSION =
+EXTRAVERSION = -rc1
 NAME = Fearless Coyote
 
 # *DOCUMENTATION*