diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 0aee749b..f40572e8 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # Changes
 
+### 2024-11-06 (2.8.1)
+
+* Fix the java packages to include the extension.
+
 ### 2024-11-06 (2.8.0)
 
 * Emit a deprecation warning when `JSON.load` create custom types without the `create_additions` option being explictly enabled.
diff --git a/json.gemspec b/json.gemspec
index c6aa82d3..321a85fc 100644
--- a/json.gemspec
+++ b/json.gemspec
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ spec = Gem::Specification.new do |s|
 
   if java_ext
     s.platform = 'java'
+    s.files += Dir["lib/json/ext/**/*.jar"]
   else
     s.extensions = Dir["ext/json/**/extconf.rb"]
     s.files += Dir["ext/json/**/*.{c,h,rl}"]
diff --git a/lib/json/version.rb b/lib/json/version.rb
index 363bdbea..52da68dd 100644
--- a/lib/json/version.rb
+++ b/lib/json/version.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
 module JSON
-  VERSION = '2.8.0'
+  VERSION = '2.8.1'
 end