diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index 64f9ff414..108509ed2 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "2.8.0"
+  ".": "2.8.1"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0a48770f8..812689964 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [2.8.1](https://github.com/microsoft/OpenAPI.NET/compare/v2.8.0...v2.8.1) (2026-06-09)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **library:** avoid false circular refs for external schema re-exports ([a058913](https://github.com/microsoft/OpenAPI.NET/commit/a058913943d4c197ccf03742f1c67ecc50e11a03))
+* **library:** avoid false circular refs for external schema re-exports ([1bace68](https://github.com/microsoft/OpenAPI.NET/commit/1bace6804bc15c22b7665df7c66bed2a4a27bad0))
+
 ## [2.8.0](https://github.com/microsoft/OpenAPI.NET/compare/v2.7.6...v2.8.0) (2026-06-01)
 
 
diff --git a/Directory.Build.props b/Directory.Build.props
index b915c219c..fbc8f994d 100644
--- a/Directory.Build.props
+++ b/Directory.Build.props
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
     <PackageProjectUrl>https://github.com/Microsoft/OpenAPI.NET</PackageProjectUrl>
     <Copyright>© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.</Copyright>
     <PackageTags>OpenAPI .NET</PackageTags>
-    <Version>2.8.0</Version>
+    <Version>2.8.1</Version>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <!-- https://github.com/clairernovotny/DeterministicBuilds#deterministic-builds -->
   <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(TF_BUILD)' == 'true'">