diff --git a/ethereumj-core/src/main/resources/version.properties b/ethereumj-core/src/main/resources/version.properties
index 1ac73bc091..b178593873 100644
--- a/ethereumj-core/src/main/resources/version.properties
+++ b/ethereumj-core/src/main/resources/version.properties
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-versionNumber='1.9.0'
+versionNumber='1.8.1'
 // Remove org.ethereum.db.migrate.MigrateHeaderSourceTotalDiff with databaseVersion > 6
 databaseVersion=6