diff --git a/.bumpversion.cfg b/.bumpversion.cfg
index f9ad1c0..22f99fe 100644
--- a/.bumpversion.cfg
+++ b/.bumpversion.cfg
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [bumpversion]
-current_version = 2.1.6
+current_version = 2.1.7
 commit = True
 tag = True
 
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 399088b..04b10b4 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.1.6
+2.1.7
diff --git a/make/release.mk b/make/release.mk
index c49e792..91daebf 100644
--- a/make/release.mk
+++ b/make/release.mk
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 ### create a new github release
 
-release: wheel
+.release: wheel
 	gh release create v$(version) --generate-notes --target master
 	gh release upload v$(version) $(wheel)
+	touch $@
+
+release: .release
+
 
 release-clean:
+	rm -f .release
 
diff --git a/rstms_etherscan_python/version.py b/rstms_etherscan_python/version.py
index edc60b3..b6d2a0c 100644
--- a/rstms_etherscan_python/version.py
+++ b/rstms_etherscan_python/version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "2.1.6"
+__version__ = "2.1.7"