diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a0e3daefb01d..bf7299823095 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 VERSION = 5
 PATCHLEVEL = 4
-SUBLEVEL = 253
+SUBLEVEL = 254
 EXTRAVERSION =
 NAME = Kleptomaniac Octopus