diff --git a/chinese_whispers/__init__.py b/chinese_whispers/__init__.py
index ae73cfc1..c2e9ac9e 100644
--- a/chinese_whispers/__init__.py
+++ b/chinese_whispers/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-__version__ = '0.8.0'
+__version__ = '0.8.1rc1'
 __author__ = 'Dmitry Ustalov'
 __credits__ = ['Alexander Panchenko', 'Alexander Chambers', 'Frederik Wille']
 __license__ = 'MIT'