diff --git a/doc/changes.src b/doc/changes.src
index a961fbe7..751e2aaa 100644
--- a/doc/changes.src
+++ b/doc/changes.src
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@
 The NASM 2 series supports x86-64, and is the production version of NASM
 since 2007.
 
+\S{cl-2.17} Version 2.17
+
+\b ... here goes release notes not intended to be included in the
+2.16.xx stable series ...
+
 \S{cl-2.16} Version 2.16
 
 \b Support for the \c{rdf} format has been discontinued and all the
diff --git a/version b/version
index 6d28a11d..51202b71 100644
--- a/version
+++ b/version
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.16
+2.17rc0