diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index f7b447160..94cd00c9f 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+Noteworthy changes in version 2.4.4 (unreleased)
+------------------------------------------------
+
+  Release-info: https://dev.gnupg.org/T6578
+
+
 Noteworthy changes in version 2.4.3 (2023-07-04)
 ------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index e68b779c5..953e2616f 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ min_automake_version="1.16.3"
 m4_define([mym4_package],[gnupg])
 m4_define([mym4_major], [2])
 m4_define([mym4_minor], [4])
-m4_define([mym4_micro], [3])
+m4_define([mym4_micro], [4])
 
 # 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