diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 88ab6834e..7502c0c4e 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-16.10
+16.10-1
diff --git a/lisp/ess-custom.el b/lisp/ess-custom.el
index a0609325b..33711182d 100644
--- a/lisp/ess-custom.el
+++ b/lisp/ess-custom.el
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@
   :prefix "ess-")
 ;; Variables (not user-changeable)
 
-(defvar ess-version "16.10" ;; updated by 'make'
+(defvar ess-version "16.10-1" ;; updated by 'make'
   "Version of ESS currently loaded.")
 
 (defvar ess-revision nil ;; set