diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index be0b1fd47..c415c2af8 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+Noteworthy changes in version 1.4.0
+-------------------------------------------------
+
+    * See the file doc/highlights-1.4.txt for an overview of all
+      changes in respect to the 1.2 series.
+
+
 Noteworthy changes in version 1.3.93 (2004-12-14)
 -------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 073ae79dd..843f95455 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -22,11 +22,11 @@ dnl (Process this file with autoconf to produce a configure script.)
 dnlAC_REVISION($Revision$)dnl
 
 AC_PREREQ(2.59)
-min_automake_version="1.7.9"
+min_automake_version="1.9.3"
 
 # Remember to change the version number immediately *after* a release
 # and remove the "-cvs" or "rc" suffix immediately *before* a release.
-AC_INIT(gnupg, 1.3.93, bug-gnupg@gnu.org)
+AC_INIT(gnupg, 1.4.0-cvs, bug-gnupg@gnu.org)
 # Set development_version to yes if the minor number is odd or you
 # feel that the default check for a development version is not
 # sufficient.