diff --git a/target/linux/mvebu/Makefile b/target/linux/mvebu/Makefile
index e319a8f82..a07aa7cf2 100644
--- a/target/linux/mvebu/Makefile
+++ b/target/linux/mvebu/Makefile
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ CPU_TYPE:=cortex-a9
 CPU_SUBTYPE:=vfpv3
 MAINTAINER:=Imre Kaloz <kaloz@openwrt.org>
 
-KERNEL_PATCHVER:=4.4
+KERNEL_PATCHVER:=4.9
 
 include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/target.mk