diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9a7fdc2af8..387d3bcbcd 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [1.618.1](https://github.com/windmill-labs/windmill/compare/v1.618.0...v1.618.1) (2026-01-28)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* handle empty base_url and region strings in AI providers ([#7719](https://github.com/windmill-labs/windmill/issues/7719)) ([7cd51de](https://github.com/windmill-labs/windmill/commit/7cd51def2b89efc117f5add7c9f8d92caa1f782d))
+
 ## [1.618.0](https://github.com/windmill-labs/windmill/compare/v1.617.3...v1.618.0) (2026-01-28)
 
 
diff --git a/version.txt b/version.txt
index 6cb6731609..490a68a004 100644
--- a/version.txt
+++ b/version.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.618.0
+1.618.1