diff --git a/.VERSION b/.VERSION
index 6d15b6955..a333e93d3 100644
--- a/.VERSION
+++ b/.VERSION
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 # version, i.e., code is from SCM/git. This project uses semantic
 # versioning. For details see http://semver.org
 
-1.8.7
+1.8.8