diff --git a/Documentation/RelNotes/2.44.0.txt b/Documentation/RelNotes/2.44.0.txt
index 7cee544..14f9ce8 100644
--- a/Documentation/RelNotes/2.44.0.txt
+++ b/Documentation/RelNotes/2.44.0.txt
@@ -331,3 +331,4 @@
    (merge 8430b438f6 vd/fsck-submodule-url-test later to maint).
    (merge 3cb4384683 jc/t0091-with-unknown-git later to maint).
    (merge 020456cb74 rs/receive-pack-remove-find-header later to maint).
+   (merge bc47139f4f la/trailer-cleanups later to maint).
diff --git a/GIT-VERSION-GEN b/GIT-VERSION-GEN
index d3a33f0..6339941 100755
--- a/GIT-VERSION-GEN
+++ b/GIT-VERSION-GEN
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
 GVF=GIT-VERSION-FILE
-DEF_VER=v2.44.0-rc1
+DEF_VER=v2.44.0-rc2
 
 LF='
 '