diff --git a/HotSpot3D-1.8.0.tar.gz b/HotSpot3D-1.8.1.tar.gz
similarity index 61%
rename from HotSpot3D-1.8.0.tar.gz
rename to HotSpot3D-1.8.1.tar.gz
index af81692..4a85c91 100644
Binary files a/HotSpot3D-1.8.0.tar.gz and b/HotSpot3D-1.8.1.tar.gz differ
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 569475d..95d877b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Usage
 
          Stable:     v0.6.0 
 
-           Beta:     up to v1.8.0
+           Beta:     up to v1.8.1
         
          Author:     Beifang Niu, John Wallis, Adam D Scott, Sohini Sengupta, & Amila Weerasinghe
 
@@ -86,9 +86,9 @@ For the latest stable version:
 
 For the latest beta version:
 
-	git pull origin v1.8.0
+	git pull origin v1.8.1
     
-	cpanm HotSpot3D-1.8.0.tar.gz
+	cpanm HotSpot3D-1.8.1.tar.gz
 
 Final note: Installations under some organizations may use an internal perl version. 
 To make use of the /usr/ perl, edit the first line of ~/perl5/bin/hotspot3d.
diff --git a/bin/hotspot3d b/bin/hotspot3d
index 3274432..5d4f83d 100755
--- a/bin/hotspot3d
+++ b/bin/hotspot3d
@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@
 #----------------------------------
 # $Authors: Beifang Niu & Adam D Scott
 # $Date: 2013-08-08 13:22:08 -0500 (Thu Aug  8 13:22:08 CDT 2013) $
-# $Revision: 1.8.0 $
+# $Revision: 1.8.1 $
 # $URL: $
 #----------------------------------
 use strict;
 use warnings;
 
-our $VERSION = 'V1.8.0';
+our $VERSION = 'V1.8.1';
 
 use Carp;
 use FileHandle;
diff --git a/dist.ini b/dist.ini
index 6c4ab71..701b973 100644
--- a/dist.ini
+++ b/dist.ini
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 name    = HotSpot3D
 author  = Beifang Niu, John Wallis, Adam D Scott, Sohini Sengupta, Amila Weerasinghe, & Matthew H Bailey from McDonnell Genome Institute of Washington University at St. Louis
-version = 1.8.0
+version = 1.8.1
 license = Perl_5
 copyright_holder = McDonnell Genome Institute at Washington University
 copyright_year   = 2017