diff --git a/rtree/__init__.py b/rtree/__init__.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/rtree/__init__.py
+++ b/rtree/__init__.py
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@ from .index import Rtree
 
 from .core import rt
 
-__version__ = '0.8.0'
+__version__ = '0.8.1'
increment version to <I> in preparation for release