diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index baee3d414754..aa527a46c807 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 VERSION = 2
 PATCHLEVEL = 6
-SUBLEVEL = 26
-EXTRAVERSION =
+SUBLEVEL = 27
+EXTRAVERSION = -rc1
 NAME = Rotary Wombat
 
 # *DOCUMENTATION*