diff --git a/WHATSNEW b/WHATSNEW
index 1ce483b1e..25d2d6540 100644
--- a/WHATSNEW
+++ b/WHATSNEW
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ Fixed bugs:
 Other changes:
 --------------
 
+ * initial support for Java 1.9
+
  * <sshexec> can optionally pass System.in to the remote process
    Bugzilla Report 55393