diff --git a/PIL/__init__.py b/PIL/__init__.py
index 4dce12d33..6d51a5dcb 100644
--- a/PIL/__init__.py
+++ b/PIL/__init__.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # ;-)
 
 VERSION = '1.1.7'  # PIL version
-PILLOW_VERSION = '2.8.1'  # Pillow
+PILLOW_VERSION = '2.9.0.dev0'  # Pillow
 
 _plugins = ['BmpImagePlugin',
             'BufrStubImagePlugin',
diff --git a/_imaging.c b/_imaging.c
index 08e003c80..786363e24 100644
--- a/_imaging.c
+++ b/_imaging.c
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
  * See the README file for information on usage and redistribution.
  */
 
-#define PILLOW_VERSION "2.8.1"
+#define PILLOW_VERSION "2.9.0.dev0"
 
 #include "Python.h"
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 3887b421d..5886de07b 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ except (ImportError, OSError):
 
 
 NAME = 'Pillow'
-PILLOW_VERSION = '2.8.1'
+PILLOW_VERSION = '2.9.0.dev0'
 TCL_ROOT = None
 JPEG_ROOT = None
 JPEG2K_ROOT = None