diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 568dcdf01..055c43a34 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+Noteworthy changes in version 2.5.4 (unreleased)
+------------------------------------------------
+
+
+  See-also: gnupg-announce/2025q1/000xxx.html
+  Release-info: https://dev.gnupg.org/T7480
+
+
 Noteworthy changes in version 2.5.3 (2025-01-09)
 ------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 6252d57e6..cbe83ea21 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], [5])
-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