diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ef8913a8eb2a03..84b71845c43f32 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 VERSION = 5
-PATCHLEVEL = 5
+PATCHLEVEL = 6
 SUBLEVEL = 0
-EXTRAVERSION =
+EXTRAVERSION = -rc1
 NAME = Kleptomaniac Octopus
 
 # *DOCUMENTATION*