diff --git a/bindings/python/notmuch/version.py b/bindings/python/notmuch/version.py
index 7ad5a27b..a2c790c3 100644
--- a/bindings/python/notmuch/version.py
+++ b/bindings/python/notmuch/version.py
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-# This file is potentially auto-generated. Do not modify
-__VERSION__ = '0.6'
+# this file should be kept in sync with ../../../version
+__VERSION__ = '0.8~rc1'
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 1b642802..c2b75524 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+notmuch (0.8~rc1-1) experimental; urgency=low
+
+  * Upstream release candidate.
+
+ -- David Bremner <bremner@debian.org>  Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:24:24 -0300
+
 notmuch (0.7-1) unstable; urgency=low
 
   * New upstream release (no changes since 0.7~rc1).
diff --git a/version b/version
index eb49d7c7..867daade 100644
--- a/version
+++ b/version
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.7
+0.8~rc1