diff --git a/netbox/netbox/settings.py b/netbox/netbox/settings.py
index bf1381280..f5ee03ecf 100644
--- a/netbox/netbox/settings.py
+++ b/netbox/netbox/settings.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from django.core.validators import URLValidator
 # Environment setup
 #
 
-VERSION = '2.9.6'
+VERSION = '2.9.7-dev'
 
 # Hostname
 HOSTNAME = platform.node()