diff --git a/src/common/Version.hxx b/src/common/Version.hxx
index 759f6cdfa..aaff1a272 100644
--- a/src/common/Version.hxx
+++ b/src/common/Version.hxx
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 
 #include <cstdlib>
 
-#define STELLA_VERSION "3.8.1"
+#define STELLA_VERSION "3.9_pre"
 #define STELLA_BUILD atoi("$Rev$" + 6)
 
 #endif