diff --git a/platformio/__init__.py b/platformio/__init__.py
index 0a1bc48c..ee6d438d 100644
--- a/platformio/__init__.py
+++ b/platformio/__init__.py
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-VERSION = (4, 4, "0a7")
+import sys
+
+VERSION = (4, 4, "0a8")
 __version__ = ".".join([str(s) for s in VERSION])
 
 __title__ = "platformio"