diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index 64f9ff4..108509e 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 17aa7dd..4b79ff0 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 2.8.1 (2026-02-27)
+
+Full Changelog: [v2.8.0...v2.8.1](https://github.com/moderation-api/sdk-ruby/compare/v2.8.0...v2.8.1)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* properly mock time in ruby ci tests ([9ca660b](https://github.com/moderation-api/sdk-ruby/commit/9ca660b7a3fece7435218a33d2ede5bdc7eeb865))
+
 ## 2.8.0 (2026-02-23)
 
 Full Changelog: [v2.7.1...v2.8.0](https://github.com/moderation-api/sdk-ruby/compare/v2.7.1...v2.8.0)
diff --git a/Gemfile.lock b/Gemfile.lock
index a141186..711d22d 100644
--- a/Gemfile.lock
+++ b/Gemfile.lock
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ GIT
 PATH
   remote: .
   specs:
-    moderation_api (2.8.0)
+    moderation_api (2.8.1)
       cgi
       connection_pool
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 571259d..a624b5b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ To use this gem, install via Bundler by adding the following to your application
 <!-- x-release-please-start-version -->
 
 ```ruby
-gem "moderation_api", "~> 2.8.0"
+gem "moderation_api", "~> 2.8.1"
 ```
 
 <!-- x-release-please-end -->
diff --git a/lib/moderation_api/version.rb b/lib/moderation_api/version.rb
index e7bf221..7e26d10 100644
--- a/lib/moderation_api/version.rb
+++ b/lib/moderation_api/version.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
 module ModerationAPI
-  VERSION = "2.8.0"
+  VERSION = "2.8.1"
 end
diff --git a/test/moderation_api/client_test.rb b/test/moderation_api/client_test.rb
index 3649d67..04e2568 100644
--- a/test/moderation_api/client_test.rb
+++ b/test/moderation_api/client_test.rb
@@ -103,20 +103,22 @@ def test_client_retry_after_seconds
   end
 
   def test_client_retry_after_date
+    time_now = Time.now
+
     stub_request(:post, "http://localhost/moderate").to_return_json(
       status: 500,
-      headers: {"retry-after" => (Time.now + 10).httpdate},
+      headers: {"retry-after" => (time_now + 10).httpdate},
       body: {}
     )
 
     moderation_api =
       ModerationAPI::Client.new(base_url: "http://localhost", secret_key: "My Secret Key", max_retries: 1)
 
+    Thread.current.thread_variable_set(:time_now, time_now)
     assert_raises(ModerationAPI::Errors::InternalServerError) do
-      Thread.current.thread_variable_set(:time_now, Time.now)
       moderation_api.content.submit(content: {text: "x", type: :text})
-      Thread.current.thread_variable_set(:time_now, nil)
     end
+    Thread.current.thread_variable_set(:time_now, nil)
 
     assert_requested(:any, /./, times: 2)
     assert_in_delta(10, Thread.current.thread_variable_get(:mock_sleep).last, 1.0)