--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -951,7 +951,7 @@ $(vmlinux-dirs): prepare scripts
 # Store (new) KERNELRELASE string in include/config/kernel.release
 include/config/kernel.release: include/config/auto.conf FORCE
 	$(Q)rm -f $@
-	$(Q)echo "$(KERNELVERSION)$$($(CONFIG_SHELL) $(srctree)/scripts/setlocalversion $(srctree))" > $@
+	$(Q)echo "2.6.$$((40 + $(PATCHLEVEL)))$(EXTRAVERSION)$$($(CONFIG_SHELL) $(srctree)/scripts/setlocalversion $(srctree))" > $@
 
 
 # Things we need to do before we recursively start building the kernel