diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 3b3cd75bba878..8c7de9a72ea26 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 VERSION = 5
-PATCHLEVEL = 17
+PATCHLEVEL = 18
 SUBLEVEL = 0
-EXTRAVERSION =
+EXTRAVERSION = -rc1
 NAME = Superb Owl
 
 # *DOCUMENTATION*