diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 8a2db79df..6a00c0e6d 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+Noteworthy changes in version 2.1.8 (unreleased)
+------------------------------------------------
+
+
 Noteworthy changes in version 2.1.7 (2015-08-11)
 ------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b38aa065a..1d0ae6597 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ min_automake_version="1.14"
 m4_define([mym4_package],[gnupg])
 m4_define([mym4_major], [2])
 m4_define([mym4_minor], [1])
-m4_define([mym4_micro], [7])
+m4_define([mym4_micro], [8])
 
 # To start a new development series, i.e a new major or minor number
 # you need to mark an arbitrary commit before the first beta release