diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 3cedd41..2136bf2 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Package: RKorAPClient
 Type: Package
 Title: 'KorAP' Web Service Client Package
-Version: 0.7.7
+Version: 0.7.7.9000
 Authors@R:
     c(person(given = "Marc",
              family = "Kupietz",
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 5a695bf..cc4f985 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+# RKorAPClient 0.7.7.9000 (unpublished)
+
 # RKorAPClient 0.7.7
 
 - fixed R 4.3 compatibility (see <https://github.com/KorAP/RKorAPClient/issues/12>)