diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6fbb7e52..57faf90a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [1.9.0] - TBD
+
 ## [1.8.0] - January 4, 2025
 
 This release contains performance and documentation enhancements as well as new features, including ...
diff --git a/bzfs/bzfs.py b/bzfs/bzfs.py
index bb8d0db0..1d79ecbf 100755
--- a/bzfs/bzfs.py
+++ b/bzfs/bzfs.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
 from typing import Iterable, Deque, Dict, List, Set, Tuple, Any, Callable, Generator, Generic, ItemsView, Optional
 from typing import TypeVar, Union
 
-__version__ = "1.8.0"
+__version__ = "1.9.0-dev"
 prog_name = "bzfs"
 prog_author = "Wolfgang Hoschek"
 die_status = 3