diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index adfb13b4..4f231cc4 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,20 @@
+Libbson-1.8.1
+=============
+
+It is my pleasure to announce libbson-1.8.1. This release removes a syntax
+error in the configure script that affects some shells, and fixes the encoding
+of this NEWS file.
+
+Thanks to everyone who contributed to the development of this release.
+
+  * A. Jesse Jiryu Davis
+  * Jeremy Mikola
+
+Peace,
+
+    A. Jesse Jiryu Davis
+
+
 Libbson-1.8.0
 =============
 
diff --git a/VERSION_CURRENT b/VERSION_CURRENT
index 7b547a8e..b9268dae 100644
--- a/VERSION_CURRENT
+++ b/VERSION_CURRENT
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.8.1-dev
\ No newline at end of file
+1.8.1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/VERSION_RELEASED b/VERSION_RELEASED
index afa2b351..b9268dae 100644
--- a/VERSION_RELEASED
+++ b/VERSION_RELEASED
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.8.0
\ No newline at end of file
+1.8.1
\ No newline at end of file