diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 65843b5..3f00596 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ services:
   #  \___|_| |_|\__,_|_|  \___/|_| |_|
 
   charon:
-    image: obolnetwork/charon:${CHARON_VERSION:-v1.8.0}
+    image: obolnetwork/charon:${CHARON_VERSION:-v1.8.1-rc1}
     environment:
       - CHARON_BEACON_NODE_ENDPOINTS=${CHARON_BEACON_NODE_ENDPOINTS:-http://${CL:-lighthouse}:5052}
       - CHARON_BEACON_NODE_TIMEOUT=${CHARON_BEACON_NODE_TIMEOUT:-3s}
diff --git a/relay/docker-compose.yml b/relay/docker-compose.yml
index c252fee..3c6a989 100644
--- a/relay/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/relay/docker-compose.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ services:
   #
   relay:
     # Pegged charon version (update this for each release).
-    image: obolnetwork/charon:${CHARON_VERSION:-v1.8.0}
+    image: obolnetwork/charon:${CHARON_VERSION:-v1.8.1-rc1}
     environment:
       CHARON_P2P_TCP_ADDRESS: 0.0.0.0:3610
       CHARON_HTTP_ADDRESS: 0.0.0.0:3640