diff --git a/builder/test-integration/spec/hypriotos-image/base/kernel_spec.rb b/builder/test-integration/spec/hypriotos-image/base/kernel_spec.rb
index 9fe04c7..606123e 100644
--- a/builder/test-integration/spec/hypriotos-image/base/kernel_spec.rb
+++ b/builder/test-integration/spec/hypriotos-image/base/kernel_spec.rb
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe command('uname -r') do
-  its(:stdout) { should match /4.4.27(-v7)?+/ }
+  its(:stdout) { should match /4.4.39(-v7)?+/ }
   its(:exit_status) { should eq 0 }
 end
 
-describe file('/lib/modules/4.4.27-hypriotos+/kernel') do
+describe file('/lib/modules/4.4.39-hypriotos+/kernel') do
   it { should be_directory }
 end
 
-describe file('/lib/modules/4.4.27-hypriotos-v7+/kernel') do
+describe file('/lib/modules/4.4.39-hypriotos-v7+/kernel') do
   it { should be_directory }
 end
diff --git a/versions.config b/versions.config
index f101d0f..ed24719 100644
--- a/versions.config
+++ b/versions.config
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ RAW_IMAGE_VERSION="v0.2.2"
 RAW_IMAGE_CHECKSUM="2fbeb13b7b0f2308dbd0d82780b54c33003ad43d145ff08498b25fb8bbe1c2c6"
 
 # specific versions of kernel/firmware and docker tools
-export KERNEL_BUILD="20161028-083330"
-export KERNEL_VERSION="4.4.27"
+export KERNEL_BUILD="20161218-142852"
+export KERNEL_VERSION="4.4.39"
 export DOCKER_ENGINE_VERSION="1.12.5-0~raspbian-jessie"
 export DOCKER_COMPOSE_VERSION="1.9.0-23"
 export DOCKER_MACHINE_VERSION="0.8.2-36"