diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index c1b600f8..a6e3554f 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ libxcrypt NEWS -- history of user-visible changes.
 Please send bug reports, questions and suggestions to
 <https://github.com/besser82/libxcrypt/issues>.
 
+Version 4.4.39
+
 Version 4.4.38
 * Fix several "-Wunterminated-string-initialization", which are seen by
   upcoming GCC 15.x (issue #194).
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 3cd7a0a4..d8f3d0c7 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Process this file with autoconf to produce a configure script.
 m4_include([build-aux/m4/zw_automodern.m4])
 AC_INIT([xcrypt],
-        [4.4.38],
+        [4.4.39],
         [https://github.com/besser82/libxcrypt/issues],
         [libxcrypt],
         [https://github.com/besser82/libxcrypt])