diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index 795f7e550..fe74e5e39 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 .. currentmodule:: click
 
+Version 8.1.6
+-------------
+
+Unreleased
+
+
 Version 8.1.5
 -------------
 
diff --git a/src/click/__init__.py b/src/click/__init__.py
index 2d3f11801..8498be5dd 100644
--- a/src/click/__init__.py
+++ b/src/click/__init__.py
@@ -70,4 +70,4 @@
 from .utils import get_text_stream as get_text_stream
 from .utils import open_file as open_file
 
-__version__ = "8.1.5"
+__version__ = "8.1.6.dev"