diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 46b58276..83cf94c0 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.1)
 project(ZNC VERSION 1.8.0 LANGUAGES CXX)
 set(ZNC_VERSION 1.8.0)
 set(append_git_version false)
-set(alpha_version "-alpha1") # e.g. "-rc1"
+set(alpha_version "-beta1") # e.g. "-rc1"
 set(VERSION_EXTRA "" CACHE STRING
 	"Additional string appended to version, e.g. to mark distribution")
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 6a8e908d..3a4a8b47 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([AC_PROG_CC], [m4_errprint(__file__:__line__[: Something is trying to u
 dnl Needed for AC_PATH_PROGS_FEATURE_CHECK which was added in 2.62
 AC_PREREQ([2.62])
 dnl Keep the version number in sync with version.h!
-AC_INIT([znc], [1.8.0-alpha1])
+AC_INIT([znc], [1.8.0-beta1])
 LIBZNC_VERSION=1.8.0
 AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIR([m4])
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([src/znc.cpp])