diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 4fe05595b2da996958811226d6607ff9cd15aba2..275b9567382c775d881b03fffcdc8138fdd5d75c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 VERSION = 3
-PATCHLEVEL = 7
+PATCHLEVEL = 8
 SUBLEVEL = 0
-EXTRAVERSION =
+EXTRAVERSION = -rc1
 NAME = Terrified Chipmunk
 
 # *DOCUMENTATION*