diff --git a/version.m4 b/version.m4
index bc8a1a74ffd..49be3503693 100644
--- a/version.m4
+++ b/version.m4
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Primary version number
-m4_define([VERSION_NUMBER], [2.8.0])
+m4_define([VERSION_NUMBER], [2.8.1])
 
 # If the PRERELEASE_VERSION_NUMBER is set, we'll append
 # it to the release tag when creating an RPM or SRPM