diff --git a/kernel/README.md b/kernel/README.md
index 5196a2c58..070e43ef4 100644
--- a/kernel/README.md
+++ b/kernel/README.md
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ Kata Containers packaging repository holds the kernel configs and patches. The
 config and patches can work for many versions, but we only test the
 kernel version defined in the [runtime versions file][runtime-versions-file].
 
+For further details, see [the kernel configuration documentation](configs).
+
 ## How is it tested
 
 The Kata Containers CI scripts install the kernel from [CI cache
diff --git a/kernel/kata_config_version b/kernel/kata_config_version
index a2720097d..425151f3a 100644
--- a/kernel/kata_config_version
+++ b/kernel/kata_config_version
@@ -1 +1 @@
-39
+40