diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 30727d69c..0900a1ba8 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ AC_PREREQ(2.52)
 dnl Initialize the automake stuff
 dnl set the $host variable based on local machine/os
 AC_CANONICAL_TARGET
-AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE(FlightGear, 0.9.5)
+AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE(FlightGear, 0.9.6-pre1)
 
 dnl Checks for programs.
 AC_PROG_MAKE_SET
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ if test "x$ac_cv_header_simgear_version_h" != "xyes"; then
     exit
 fi
 
-AC_MSG_CHECKING([for simgear 0.3.6 or newer])
+AC_MSG_CHECKING([for simgear 0.3.7 or newer])
 AC_TRY_RUN([
 #include <stdio.h>
 
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ AC_TRY_RUN([
 
 #define MIN_MAJOR 0
 #define MIN_MINOR 3
-#define MIN_MICRO 6
+#define MIN_MICRO 7
 
 int main() {
     int major, minor, micro;
diff --git a/src/Main/main.cxx b/src/Main/main.cxx
index 3e8550d6e..0915f2d23 100644
--- a/src/Main/main.cxx
+++ b/src/Main/main.cxx
@@ -1549,7 +1549,7 @@ bool fgMainInit( int argc, char **argv ) {
     fgInitFGRoot(argc, argv);
 
     // Check for the correct base package version
-    static char required_version[] = "0.9.5";
+    static char required_version[] = "0.9.6";
     string base_version = fgBasePackageVersion();
     if ( !(base_version == required_version) ) {
         // tell the operator how to use this application