diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 37d8728f2..6932b9284 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+Noteworthy changes in version 2.1.7 (unreleased)
+------------------------------------------------
+
+
 Noteworthy changes in version 2.1.6 (2015-07-01)
 ------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index cf4964790..b38aa065a 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], [6])
+m4_define([mym4_micro], [7])
 
 # 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