diff --git a/.github/workflows/backwards_compatibility_tests_workflow.yml b/.github/workflows/backwards_compatibility_tests_workflow.yml
index 91a46e2e8..ddf7ffa15 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/backwards_compatibility_tests_workflow.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/backwards_compatibility_tests_workflow.yml
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         java: [ 11, 17 ]
-        bwc_version : [ "1.1.0", "1.2.4", "1.3.8", "2.0.1", "2.1.0", "2.2.1", "2.3.0", "2.4.1", "2.5.0", "2.6.0", "2.7.0", "2.8.0", "2.9.0", "2.10.0", "2.11.0", "2.12.0", "2.13.0", "2.14.0", "2.15.0", "2.16.0", "2.17.0" ]
-        opensearch_version : [ "2.18.0-SNAPSHOT" ]
+        bwc_version : [ "1.1.0", "1.2.4", "1.3.8", "2.0.1", "2.1.0", "2.2.1", "2.3.0", "2.4.1", "2.5.0", "2.6.0", "2.7.0", "2.8.0", "2.9.0", "2.10.0", "2.11.0", "2.12.0", "2.13.0", "2.14.0", "2.15.0", "2.16.0", "2.17.0", "2.18.0" ]
+        opensearch_version : [ "2.18.1-SNAPSHOT" ]
 
     name: k-NN Restart-Upgrade BWC Tests
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         java: [ 11, 17 ]
-        bwc_version: [ "1.3.8", "2.0.1", "2.1.0", "2.2.1", "2.3.0", "2.4.1", "2.5.0", "2.6.0", "2.7.0", "2.8.0", "2.9.0", "2.10.0", "2.11.0", "2.12.0", "2.13.0", "2.14.0", "2.15.0", "2.16.0", "2.17.0"]
-        opensearch_version: [ "2.18.0-SNAPSHOT" ]
+        bwc_version: [ "1.3.8", "2.0.1", "2.1.0", "2.2.1", "2.3.0", "2.4.1", "2.5.0", "2.6.0", "2.7.0", "2.8.0", "2.9.0", "2.10.0", "2.11.0", "2.12.0", "2.13.0", "2.14.0", "2.15.0", "2.16.0", "2.17.0", "2.18.0"]
+        opensearch_version: [ "2.18.1-SNAPSHOT" ]
 
     name: k-NN Rolling-Upgrade BWC Tests
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 31ada6681..ed8706108 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ buildscript {
     ext {
         // build.version_qualifier parameter applies to knn plugin artifacts only. OpenSearch version must be set
         // explicitly as 'opensearch.version' property, for instance opensearch.version=2.0.0-rc1-SNAPSHOT
-        opensearch_version = System.getProperty("opensearch.version", "2.18.0-SNAPSHOT")
+        opensearch_version = System.getProperty("opensearch.version", "2.18.1-SNAPSHOT")
         version_qualifier = System.getProperty("build.version_qualifier", "")
         opensearch_group = "org.opensearch"
         isSnapshot = "true" == System.getProperty("build.snapshot", "true")