diff --git a/src/kernel/version.c b/src/kernel/version.c
index 994291ec2..0cfad7b73 100644
--- a/src/kernel/version.c
+++ b/src/kernel/version.c
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 #ifndef ERESSEA_VERSION
 /* the version number, if it was not passed to make with -D */
-#define ERESSEA_VERSION "3.17.0"
+#define ERESSEA_VERSION "3.18.0"
 #endif
 
 const char *eressea_version(void) {