diff --git a/distrib/scripts/build-environ.cfg b/distrib/scripts/build-environ.cfg
index 3a2d89ecec..9dc6967289 100644
--- a/distrib/scripts/build-environ.cfg
+++ b/distrib/scripts/build-environ.cfg
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ DOCDIR=${WX_TEMP_DIR}/wxWidgets/docs/
 CURDATE=`date -I`
 
 # build info
-BUILD_VERSION=2.8.0
+BUILD_VERSION=2.8.1-rc1
 BUILD_TAG=HEAD