diff --git a/IPython/core/release.py b/IPython/core/release.py
index bba11bbaa50..c7326fe1b5f 100644
--- a/IPython/core/release.py
+++ b/IPython/core/release.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 # version
 _version_major = 7
 _version_minor = 16
-_version_patch = 1
+_version_patch = 2
 _version_extra = '.dev'
 # _version_extra = 'b1'
 _version_extra = ''  # Uncomment this for full releases
diff --git a/tools/release_helper.sh b/tools/release_helper.sh
index de88d0f0a69..cf053d3459a 100644
--- a/tools/release_helper.sh
+++ b/tools/release_helper.sh
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ WHITE=$(tput setaf 7)
 NOR=$(tput sgr0)
 
 
-echo "Will use $EDITOR to edit files when necessary"
+echo "Will use '$EDITOR' to edit files when necessary"
 echo -n "PREV_RELEASE (X.y.z) [$PREV_RELEASE]: "
 read input
 PREV_RELEASE=${input:-$PREV_RELEASE}
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ maybe_edit(){
 
     echo 
     if [ $value = 'e' ]  ; then
-        $EDITOR $1
+        $=EDITOR $1
     fi
 }