diff --git a/electrumx/__init__.py b/electrumx/__init__.py
index 475394d..f0f8917 100644
--- a/electrumx/__init__.py
+++ b/electrumx/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-version = 'ElectrumX 1.8'
+version = 'ElectrumX 1.8.1-dev'
 version_short = version.split()[-1]
 
 from electrumx.server.controller import Controller