diff --git a/merge_helpers.sh b/merge_helpers.sh
index fd3a0c7..98df3ae 100755
--- a/merge_helpers.sh
+++ b/merge_helpers.sh
@@ -226,6 +226,9 @@ automatic_packagejson_reversion() {
 automatic_packagejson_adjustment() {
     local versions
     get_current_versions
+    
+    # every build after a merge is a new test build
+    (( versions[2]++ ))
 
     forelement_repos apply_packagejson_overlay "package.json" "overlay-package.json"
     forelement_repos write_version "package.json"