diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b09bc5d4e..de61d7cf8 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # configure.ac
 
-AC_INIT([tmux], next-3.8)
+AC_INIT([tmux], next-3.9)
 AC_PREREQ([2.60])
 
 AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR(etc)