diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 83c64c7cf4..cdc7654e8b 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ dnl +------------------------------------------------------------------+
 dnl NUT version number is defined here, with a Git suffixed macro like
 dnl    NUT_VERSION_MACRO "2.7.4-2838-gdfc3ac08"
 dnl in include/nut_version.h (generated by make)
-AC_INIT([nut],[2.8.0.1],[https://github.com/networkupstools/nut/issues])
+AC_INIT([nut],[2.8.1],[https://github.com/networkupstools/nut/issues])
 dnl See docs/maintainer-guide.txt about releases - updating the version
 dnl above is a small part of the consistent ritual!