diff --git a/changelog.txt b/changelog.txt
index 9b0968265e..8bc7671af3 100644
--- a/changelog.txt
+++ b/changelog.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,20 @@
+- Changelog for v1.8.1-rc4 (2020-03-09)
+  * Revert "exec: get the exit code from sync pipe instead of file"
+  * Revert "Exec: use ErrorConmonRead"
+  * Revert "exec: fix error code when conmon fails"
+  * rootles tutorial: remove systemd unit example
+  * generate systemd: add `default.target` to INSTALL
+  * Bump github.com/containers/storage from 1.16.1 to 1.16.2
+  * use storage/pkg/ioutils
+  * use storage/pkg/homedir
+  * Fix spelling mistakes in code found by codespell
+  * add default network for apiv2 create
+  * Bump to v1.8.1-dev
+  * Allow users to set TMPDIR environment
+  * Fix upstream dockerfile and add 'by hand' ctrfile
+  * Cirrus: Fix fedora-minimal mirroring
+  * fix security-opt generate kube
+
 - Changelog for v1.8.1-rc3 (2020-03-06)
   * Update release notes for v1.8.1-RC3
   * Part 2: try to clean up the long image instance names
diff --git a/contrib/spec/podman.spec.in b/contrib/spec/podman.spec.in
index a9c3bc3bed..618826813f 100644
--- a/contrib/spec/podman.spec.in
+++ b/contrib/spec/podman.spec.in
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Epoch: 99
 %else
 Epoch: 0
 %endif
-Version: 1.8.1
+Version: 1.8.1-rc4
 Release: #COMMITDATE#.git%{shortcommit0}%{?dist}
 Summary: Manage Pods, Containers and Container Images
 License: ASL 2.0
diff --git a/version/version.go b/version/version.go
index d5926d7444..aa46b03cd2 100644
--- a/version/version.go
+++ b/version/version.go
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ package version
 // NOTE: remember to bump the version at the top
 // of the top-level README.md file when this is
 // bumped.
-const Version = "1.8.1-dev"
+const Version = "1.8.1-rc4"
 
 // RemoteAPIVersion is the version for the remote
 // client API.  It is used to determine compatibility