diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index eca94c5053..2b2eac0316 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ Based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 
 ## HEAD
 
+## 1.9.0
+
 ### Added
 
 * endpoint for checking zxcvbn password score [#149]
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 7d14277b54..50e0f98a9e 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ORG := keratin
 PROJECT := authn-server
 NAME := $(ORG)/$(PROJECT)
-VERSION := 1.8.0
+VERSION := 1.9.0
 MAIN := main.go
 
 .PHONY: clean