diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index e61e103d8..64731de3c 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+Noteworthy changes in version 2.2.23 (unreleased)
+-------------------------------------------------
+
 Noteworthy changes in version 2.2.22 (2020-08-27)
 -------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 023e32c4b..64cb8c669 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ min_automake_version="1.14"
 m4_define([mym4_package],[gnupg])
 m4_define([mym4_major], [2])
 m4_define([mym4_minor], [2])
-m4_define([mym4_micro], [22])
+m4_define([mym4_micro], [23])
 
 # 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