diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index adf2e6d5f6f..98681afbdcf 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.9.5 1
+1.9.6 0.1.rc1
diff --git a/lib/ansible/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/__init__.py
index e261439ae8c..1d461e0596c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/__init__.py
@@ -14,5 +14,5 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-__version__ = '1.9.5'
+__version__ = '1.9.6'
 __author__ = 'Ansible, Inc.'
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/core b/lib/ansible/modules/core
index 44f55986d81..0f85390d213 160000
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/core
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/core
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 44f55986d81a4cb84fb0e8d71dc5033a4d5a7eb6
+Subproject commit 0f85390d21321524c0701e0fdb7e0106868108dd
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/extras b/lib/ansible/modules/extras
index 30e0c507e7b..ddbb32c30af 160000
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/extras
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/extras
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 30e0c507e7b86e66662ad59367c9a97c0c19cd3b
+Subproject commit ddbb32c30af7a1232401bbf4ddcdad32ab4d27b3