diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 2fdff5654..e2d50e2a8 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+2.2.9a (2014-09-29)
+-------------------
+
+Bug fixes
+ - correctly skip unallowed characters (#2936)
+
 2.2.9 (2014-09-26)
 ------------------
 
diff --git a/Version b/Version
index 7ba76e50c..d8abd9c85 100644
--- a/Version
+++ b/Version
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@
 
 MAJOR_VERSION=2
 MINOR_VERSION=2
-SUBMINOR_VERSION=9
+SUBMINOR_VERSION=9a