diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 52c44d4..531a651 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ Configuration
 Configure this plugin and its wrappers around GraalVM tools through the `graal` extension with the following options:
 
 **General GraalVM controls**
-* `graalVersion`: the version string to use when downloading GraalVM (defaults to `1.0.0-rc6`)
+* `graalVersion`: the version string to use when downloading GraalVM (defaults to `1.0.0-rc8`)
 * `downloadBaseUrl`: the base download URL to use (defaults to `https://github.com/oracle/graal/releases/download/`)
 
 **`native-image` controls**
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/palantir/gradle/graal/GraalExtension.java b/src/main/java/com/palantir/gradle/graal/GraalExtension.java
index bf419dd..1b633b7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/palantir/gradle/graal/GraalExtension.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/palantir/gradle/graal/GraalExtension.java
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import org.gradle.api.provider.Provider;
 public class GraalExtension {
 
     private static final String DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_BASE_URL = "https://github.com/oracle/graal/releases/download/";
-    private static final String DEFAULT_GRAAL_VERSION = "1.0.0-rc6";
+    private static final String DEFAULT_GRAAL_VERSION = "1.0.0-rc8";
 
     private final Property<String> downloadBaseUrl;
     private final Property<String> graalVersion;