diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index cbe664526..995f583ab 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+Noteworthy changes in version 2.1.16 (unreleased)
+-------------------------------------------------
+
+
 Noteworthy changes in version 2.1.15 (2016-08-18)
 -------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 95a8f17da..bd24ea441 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], [15])
+m4_define([mym4_micro], [16])
 
 # 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