diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 397fe5844..4e928732e 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 strongswan-5.9.0
 ----------------
 
+- We prefer AEAD algorithms for ESP and therefore put AES-GCM in front of
+  the default proposal.
+
 
 strongswan-5.8.4
 ----------------
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 7072123db..d71ddeb38 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 #  initialize & set some vars
 # ============================
 
-AC_INIT([strongSwan],[5.9.0dr1])
+AC_INIT([strongSwan],[5.9.0dr2])
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE(m4_esyscmd([
 	echo tar-ustar
 	echo subdir-objects
diff --git a/testing/testing.conf b/testing/testing.conf
index 3d2867c85..e8c5f83ad 100644
--- a/testing/testing.conf
+++ b/testing/testing.conf
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ fi
 : ${KERNELPATCH=ha-5.0-abicompat.patch.bz2}
 
 # strongSwan version used in tests
-: ${SWANVERSION=5.9.0dr1}
+: ${SWANVERSION=5.9.0dr2}
 
 # Build directory where the guest kernel and images will be built
 : ${BUILDDIR=$TESTDIR/build}