diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 254e80a96b23..9cac6fde3479 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 VERSION = 5
-PATCHLEVEL = 8
+PATCHLEVEL = 9
 SUBLEVEL = 0
-EXTRAVERSION =
+EXTRAVERSION = -rc1
 NAME = Kleptomaniac Octopus
 
 # *DOCUMENTATION*