diff --git a/.bumpversion.cfg b/.bumpversion.cfg
index 22f99fe..0814c55 100644
--- a/.bumpversion.cfg
+++ b/.bumpversion.cfg
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [bumpversion]
-current_version = 2.1.7
+current_version = 2.1.8
 commit = True
 tag = True
 
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 5236669..3aca1ec 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -22,3 +22,4 @@ docs
 .errors
 dist
 postactivate
+.release
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 04b10b4..ebf14b4 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.1.7
+2.1.8
diff --git a/make/release.mk b/make/release.mk
index 91daebf..76380e8 100644
--- a/make/release.mk
+++ b/make/release.mk
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ### create a new github release
 
-.release: wheel
+.release: $(wheel)
 	gh release create v$(version) --generate-notes --target master
 	gh release upload v$(version) $(wheel)
 	touch $@
diff --git a/rstms_etherscan_python/version.py b/rstms_etherscan_python/version.py
index b6d2a0c..c377db3 100644
--- a/rstms_etherscan_python/version.py
+++ b/rstms_etherscan_python/version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "2.1.7"
+__version__ = "2.1.8"