diff --git a/VERSION.md b/VERSION.md
index d8589d1923db019ac808ad2c2e18e5e828971b96..4ee4a30b797bc19e39022776131452e3973a7a40 100644
--- a/VERSION.md
+++ b/VERSION.md
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.9.8
+2.9.9