diff --git a/RELEASE-NOTES b/RELEASE-NOTES
index a0290db52..73dd20beb 100644
--- a/RELEASE-NOTES
+++ b/RELEASE-NOTES
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-Curl and libcurl 7.53.2
+Curl and libcurl 7.54.0
 
  Public curl releases:         165
  Command line options:         205
diff --git a/include/curl/curlver.h b/include/curl/curlver.h
index 2789f9ad1..7beda3fa7 100644
--- a/include/curl/curlver.h
+++ b/include/curl/curlver.h
@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@
 
 /* This is the version number of the libcurl package from which this header
    file origins: */
-#define LIBCURL_VERSION "7.53.2-DEV"
+#define LIBCURL_VERSION "7.54.0-DEV"
 
 /* The numeric version number is also available "in parts" by using these
    defines: */
 #define LIBCURL_VERSION_MAJOR 7
-#define LIBCURL_VERSION_MINOR 53
-#define LIBCURL_VERSION_PATCH 2
+#define LIBCURL_VERSION_MINOR 54
+#define LIBCURL_VERSION_PATCH 0
 
 /* This is the numeric version of the libcurl version number, meant for easier
    parsing and comparions by programs. The LIBCURL_VERSION_NUM define will
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
    CURL_VERSION_BITS() macro since curl's own configure script greps for it
    and needs it to contain the full number.
 */
-#define LIBCURL_VERSION_NUM 0x073502
+#define LIBCURL_VERSION_NUM 0x073600
 
 /*
  * This is the date and time when the full source package was created. The