diff --git a/mandelbulber2/deploy/README b/mandelbulber2/deploy/README
index cb23a7d5f..7759f9efc 100644
--- a/mandelbulber2/deploy/README
+++ b/mandelbulber2/deploy/README
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-                              MANDELBULBER 2.16-dev
+                              MANDELBULBER 2.16
 
 1. What is Mandelbulber
 -----------------------
diff --git a/mandelbulber2/deploy/README-osx.txt b/mandelbulber2/deploy/README-osx.txt
index 8f07fba08..2d8cdf183 100644
--- a/mandelbulber2/deploy/README-osx.txt
+++ b/mandelbulber2/deploy/README-osx.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-                              MANDELBULBER 2.16-dev
+                              MANDELBULBER 2.16
 
 1. What is Mandelbulber
 -----------------------
diff --git a/mandelbulber2/deploy/README-win32.txt b/mandelbulber2/deploy/README-win32.txt
index 9805dac05..3994984fe 100644
--- a/mandelbulber2/deploy/README-win32.txt
+++ b/mandelbulber2/deploy/README-win32.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-                                 MANDELBULBER 2.16-dev
+                                 MANDELBULBER 2.16
 
 1. What is Mandelbulber
 -----------------------
diff --git a/mandelbulber2/msvc/mandelbulber2.rc b/mandelbulber2/msvc/mandelbulber2.rc
index d5f004698..5ce30f882 100644
--- a/mandelbulber2/msvc/mandelbulber2.rc
+++ b/mandelbulber2/msvc/mandelbulber2.rc
@@ -79,12 +79,12 @@ BEGIN
         BEGIN
             VALUE "CompanyName", "Mandelbulber Team"
             VALUE "FileDescription", "Mandelbulber generates three-dimensional fractals."
-            VALUE "FileVersion", "2.16-dev"
+            VALUE "FileVersion", "2.16"
             VALUE "InternalName", "mandelbulber2.exe"
             VALUE "LegalCopyright", "Copyright (C) 2018 Mandelbulber Team"
             VALUE "OriginalFilename", "mandelbulber2.exe"
             VALUE "ProductName", "Mandelbulber"
-            VALUE "ProductVersion", "2.16-dev"
+            VALUE "ProductVersion", "2.16"
         END
     END
     BLOCK "VarFileInfo"
diff --git a/mandelbulber2/opencl/engines/fast_engine.cl b/mandelbulber2/opencl/engines/fast_engine.cl
index c492c346d..4e6c8afe5 100644
--- a/mandelbulber2/opencl/engines/fast_engine.cl
+++ b/mandelbulber2/opencl/engines/fast_engine.cl
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@
  * Fast kernel for rendering opencl with missing effects
  */
 
+// defined to force recompilation of kernels on NVidia cards with new releases
+#define MANDELBULBER_VERSION 2.16
+
 int GetInteger(int byte, __global char *array)
 {
 	__global int *intPointer = (__global int *)&array[byte];
diff --git a/mandelbulber2/opencl/engines/full_engine.cl b/mandelbulber2/opencl/engines/full_engine.cl
index d6a33789a..da18c8d75 100644
--- a/mandelbulber2/opencl/engines/full_engine.cl
+++ b/mandelbulber2/opencl/engines/full_engine.cl
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@
  * Full kernel for rendering opencl with missing effects
  */
 
+//defined to force recompilation of kernels on NVidia cards with new releases
+#define MANDELBULBER_VERSION 2.16
+
 int GetInteger(int byte, __global char *array)
 {
 	__global int *intPointer = (__global int *)&array[byte];
diff --git a/mandelbulber2/opencl/engines/limited_engine.cl b/mandelbulber2/opencl/engines/limited_engine.cl
index e8dfa0a1d..22089741e 100644
--- a/mandelbulber2/opencl/engines/limited_engine.cl
+++ b/mandelbulber2/opencl/engines/limited_engine.cl
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@
  * Fast kernel for rendering opencl with missing effects
  */
 
+// defined to force recompilation of kernels on NVidia cards with new releases
+#define MANDELBULBER_VERSION 2.16
+
 int GetInteger(int byte, __global char *array)
 {
 	__global int *intPointer = (__global int *)&array[byte];
diff --git a/mandelbulber2/src/system.hpp b/mandelbulber2/src/system.hpp
index bba31f655..055168fe3 100644
--- a/mandelbulber2/src/system.hpp
+++ b/mandelbulber2/src/system.hpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 #define MANDELBULBER2_SRC_SYSTEM_HPP_
 
 #define MANDELBULBER_VERSION 2.16
-#define MANDELBULBER_VERSION_STRING "2.16-dev"
+#define MANDELBULBER_VERSION_STRING "2.16"
 #define TO_STRING(a) #a
 
 #ifdef _WIN32 /* WINDOWS */