diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 846e292..c997a8c 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ dnl Copyright 2002-2008, 2010, 2012-2015, 2017, 2021, 2023 Andrew Wood
 dnl
 dnl License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later; see `docs/COPYING'.
 
-AC_INIT([pv], [1.8.x-UNRELEASED], [pv@ivarch.com], [pv], [https://www.ivarch.com/programs/pv.shtml])
+AC_INIT([pv], [1.8.5], [pv@ivarch.com], [pv], [https://www.ivarch.com/programs/pv.shtml])
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([src/include/config.h.in])
 AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR([build-aux])
 AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([src/include/config.h])
diff --git a/docs/NEWS.md b/docs/NEWS.md
index 0ee9a2a..d974911 100644
--- a/docs/NEWS.md
+++ b/docs/NEWS.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-### 1.8.x-UNRELEASED
+### 1.8.5 - 19 November 2023
 
  * fix: corrected percentage formatting so it doesn't jump from 2 to 3 characters wide at 100% ([#80](https://codeberg.org/a-j-wood/pv/issues/80))
  * fix: replaced "`--remote`" mechanism, using a temporary file instead of SysV IPC, so it can work reliably even when there are multiple PV instances
diff --git a/docs/pv.1 b/docs/pv.1
index 626552b..0285054 100644
--- a/docs/pv.1
+++ b/docs/pv.1
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-.TH PV 1 "October 2023" Linux "User Manuals"
+.TH PV 1 "November 2023" Linux "User Manuals"
 .SH NAME
 pv \- monitor the progress of data through a pipe
 .SH SYNOPSIS