diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index 55fc012b..d32a94d8 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-CHANGES FROM 2.8 to X.X
+CHANGES FROM 2.8 to 2.9
 
 * Add format variables for the default formats in the various modes
   (tree_mode_format and so on) and add a -a flag to display-message to list
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1a3ba43c..453e734b 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # configure.ac
 
-AC_INIT([tmux], next-2.9)
+AC_INIT([tmux], 2.9-rc)
 AC_PREREQ([2.60])
 
 AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR(etc)