diff --git a/op-build-env b/op-build-env
index 9cd5cb5..e6ca40e 100755
--- a/op-build-env
+++ b/op-build-env
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@
     source ./customrc
 fi
 
+if [ ! -e buildroot/Makefile ]; then
+	echo "Please make sure you've checked out the buildroot submodule"
+	echo "  git submodule init && git submodule update"
+	return -1
+fi
+
 export BR2_EXTERNAL=${__PWD}/openpower
 export BR2_DL_DIR=${__PWD}/dl
 
diff --git a/openpower/configs/barreleye_defconfig b/openpower/configs/barreleye_defconfig
index c7882b1..abf1697 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/barreleye_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/barreleye_defconfig
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/linux"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
diff --git a/openpower/configs/firenze_defconfig b/openpower/configs/firenze_defconfig
index b9f49ca..33b9092 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/firenze_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/firenze_defconfig
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/linux"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
diff --git a/openpower/configs/firestone_defconfig b/openpower/configs/firestone_defconfig
index fcdd128..0149a17 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/firestone_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/firestone_defconfig
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/linux"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
diff --git a/openpower/configs/garrison_defconfig b/openpower/configs/garrison_defconfig
index e0035ed..88137f5 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/garrison_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/garrison_defconfig
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/linux"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
diff --git a/openpower/configs/habanero_defconfig b/openpower/configs/habanero_defconfig
index 5b0116f..9833a01 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/habanero_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/habanero_defconfig
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/linux"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
diff --git a/openpower/configs/openpower_mambo_defconfig b/openpower/configs/openpower_mambo_defconfig
index 4ec527a..d1e58c4 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/openpower_mambo_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/openpower_mambo_defconfig
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/linux"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
diff --git a/openpower/configs/openpower_p9_mambo_defconfig b/openpower/configs/openpower_p9_mambo_defconfig
index ef4fa96..a3ad6ba 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/openpower_p9_mambo_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/openpower_p9_mambo_defconfig
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_ZIMAGE_EPAPR=y
diff --git a/openpower/configs/palmetto_defconfig b/openpower/configs/palmetto_defconfig
index 22509d8..1293c0b 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/palmetto_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/palmetto_defconfig
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/linux"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
diff --git a/openpower/configs/witherspoon_defconfig b/openpower/configs/witherspoon_defconfig
index d9a5a68..437d90b 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/witherspoon_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/witherspoon_defconfig
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.6"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.9.8"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_ZIMAGE_EPAPR=y
diff --git a/openpower/configs/zaius_defconfig b/openpower/configs/zaius_defconfig
index f685ef3..ed7a7e2 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/zaius_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/zaius_defconfig
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.10-rc4"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.10-rc7"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_ZIMAGE_EPAPR=y
diff --git a/openpower/configs/zz_defconfig b/openpower/configs/zz_defconfig
index b9024f6..03a86b5 100644
--- a/openpower/configs/zz_defconfig
+++ b/openpower/configs/zz_defconfig
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="../openpower/scripts/fixup-target-var ../openpower/scripts/firmware-whitelist"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION=y
-BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.10-rc3"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_VERSION_VALUE="4.10-rc7"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_CUSTOM_CONFIG=y
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE="$(BR2_EXTERNAL_OP_BUILD_PATH)/configs/linux/skiroot_defconfig"
 BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_ZIMAGE_EPAPR=y
diff --git a/openpower/linux/0004-Release-4.9.6-openpower1.patch b/openpower/linux/0004-Release-4.9.8-openpower1.patch
similarity index 82%
rename from openpower/linux/0004-Release-4.9.6-openpower1.patch
rename to openpower/linux/0004-Release-4.9.8-openpower1.patch
index d888467..87bbcca 100644
--- a/openpower/linux/0004-Release-4.9.6-openpower1.patch
+++ b/openpower/linux/0004-Release-4.9.8-openpower1.patch
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 From: Joel Stanley <joel@jms.id.au>
 Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2016 23:00:23 +0930
-Subject: [PATCH 4/4] Release 4.9.6-openpower1
+Subject: [PATCH 4/4] Release 4.9.8-openpower1
 
 Signed-off-by: Joel Stanley <joel@jms.id.au>
 ---
@@ -9,13 +9,13 @@
  1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)
 
 diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
-index ef95231d1625..45726a9b4774 100644
+index 1130803ab93c..9931edcea668 100644
 --- a/Makefile
 +++ b/Makefile
 @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
  VERSION = 4
  PATCHLEVEL = 9
- SUBLEVEL = 6
+ SUBLEVEL = 8
 -EXTRAVERSION =
 +EXTRAVERSION = -openpower1
  NAME = Roaring Lionus