diff --git a/target/linux/ar7/Makefile b/target/linux/ar7/Makefile
index c5a6035b53..1f789ca71f 100644
--- a/target/linux/ar7/Makefile
+++ b/target/linux/ar7/Makefile
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ FEATURES:=squashfs atm low_mem
 MAINTAINER:=Florian Fainelli <florian@openwrt.org>
 SUBTARGETS:=generic ac49x
 
-KERNEL_PATCHVER:=3.18
+KERNEL_PATCHVER:=4.9
 
 define Target/Description
 	Build firmware images for TI AR7 based routers.