diff --git a/GITLAB_KAS_VERSION b/GITLAB_KAS_VERSION
index 13f7272cfef759f3ee49937641e825a243d9bc7d..83d4962b6a591e052b3ca7c16fe70505f6547a9f 100644
--- a/GITLAB_KAS_VERSION
+++ b/GITLAB_KAS_VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-v16.9.0-rc1
+v16.9.0-rc2