diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index aa45be375d8f6..7781ca4f1ca28 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 VERSION = 3
 PATCHLEVEL = 18
-SUBLEVEL = 96
+SUBLEVEL = 97
 EXTRAVERSION =
 NAME = Diseased Newt