diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 7d7cf0082443..ef4697fcb8ea 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 VERSION = 5
 PATCHLEVEL = 4
-SUBLEVEL = 43
+SUBLEVEL = 44
 EXTRAVERSION =
 NAME = Kleptomaniac Octopus