diff --git a/RELEASE-NOTES b/RELEASE-NOTES
index 208d9da..7c83946 100644
--- a/RELEASE-NOTES
+++ b/RELEASE-NOTES
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+version 0.9.18
+--------------
+
+- last release of 2016.  Just a couple of minor tweaks to logging.
+
 version 0.9.17
 --------------
 
diff --git a/server/version.py b/server/version.py
index f6706c0..a0336c0 100644
--- a/server/version.py
+++ b/server/version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-VERSION = "ElectrumX 0.9.17"
+VERSION = "ElectrumX 0.9.18"