diff --git a/GPy/__version__.py b/GPy/__version__.py
index 58bdec10..a1078c19 100644
--- a/GPy/__version__.py
+++ b/GPy/__version__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "1.9.6"
+__version__ = "1.9.7"
diff --git a/appveyor.yml b/appveyor.yml
index e1b6013c..b7fe35d7 100644
--- a/appveyor.yml
+++ b/appveyor.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ environment:
     secure: 8/ZjXFwtd1S7ixd7PJOpptupKKEDhm2da/q3unabJ00=
   COVERALLS_REPO_TOKEN:
     secure: d3Luic/ESkGaWnZrvWZTKrzO+xaVwJWaRCEP0F+K/9DQGPSRZsJ/Du5g3s4XF+tS
-  gpy_version: 1.9.6
+  gpy_version: 1.9.7
   matrix:
     - PYTHON_VERSION: 2.7
       MINICONDA: C:\Miniconda-x64
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index bee1179c..12f2ec04 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [bumpversion]
-current_version = 1.9.6
+current_version = 1.9.7
 tag = True
 commit = True
 
@@ -12,3 +12,4 @@ upload-dir = doc/build/html
 
 [medatdata]
 description-file = README.rst
+