diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 82f76a96cfe6..7c010f3325a9 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 VERSION = 2
 PATCHLEVEL = 6
-SUBLEVEL = 17
-EXTRAVERSION =
+SUBLEVEL = 18
+EXTRAVERSION = -rc1
 NAME=Crazed Snow-Weasel
 
 # *DOCUMENTATION*