diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 4b01281..b5fed02 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 # Used by :api_install and :api_deploy targets
 # when talking to the destination repository.
 #
-GERRIT_VERSION = '2.8'
+GERRIT_VERSION = '2.8.1'