diff --git a/Include/patchlevel.h b/Include/patchlevel.h
index 00717a716b7..f884cd1eafa 100644
--- a/Include/patchlevel.h
+++ b/Include/patchlevel.h
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 #define PY_RELEASE_SERIAL	0
 
 /* Version as a string */
-#define PY_VERSION      	"3.4.3"
+#define PY_VERSION      	"3.4.3+"
 /*--end constants--*/
 
 /* Version as a single 4-byte hex number, e.g. 0x010502B2 == 1.5.2b2.
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 66444ea6411..b3f24fbdfac 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -2,6 +2,18 @@
 Python News
 +++++++++++
 
+What's New in Python 3.4.4rc1?
+==============================
+
+Release date: tba
+
+Core and Builtins
+-----------------
+
+Library
+-------
+
+
 What's New in Python 3.4.3?
 ===========================