diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 5633c55b0..1a8a989d9 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+Noteworthy changes in version 2.1.18 (unreleased)
+-------------------------------------------------
+
+
 Noteworthy changes in version 2.1.17 (2016-12-20)
 -------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 663061031..b7e070799 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], [17])
+m4_define([mym4_micro], [18])
 
 # 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