diff --git a/bitbake/bin/bitbake b/bitbake/bin/bitbake
index f494eaa132..a2a42a3f62 100755
--- a/bitbake/bin/bitbake
+++ b/bitbake/bin/bitbake
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ from bb.main import bitbake_main, BitBakeConfigParameters, BBMainException
 
 bb.utils.check_system_locale()
 
-__version__ = "2.8.0"
+__version__ = "2.8.1"
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     if __version__ != bb.__version__:
diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/__init__.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/__init__.py
index f59c2515b7..3fb2ec5d14 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/__init__.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/__init__.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-only
 #
 
-__version__ = "2.8.0"
+__version__ = "2.8.1"
 
 import sys
 if sys.version_info < (3, 8, 0):