diff --git a/ops/version.py b/ops/version.py
index ffcdff92d..f4bd185de 100644
--- a/ops/version.py
+++ b/ops/version.py
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
 This module is NOT to be used when developing charms using ops.
 """
 
-version: str = '2.17.0'
+version: str = '2.18.0.dev0'