diff --git a/.bumpversion.cfg b/.bumpversion.cfg
index c8c9f544..4bea6cca 100644
--- a/.bumpversion.cfg
+++ b/.bumpversion.cfg
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [bumpversion]
-current_version = 44.1.0
+current_version = 44.1.1
 commit = True
 tag = True
 
diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index 83cd8c78..43b65eb3 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+v44.1.1
+-------
+
+* #2158: Avoid loading working set during ``Distribution.finalize_options`` prior to invoking ``_install_setup_requires``, broken since v42.0.0.
+
+
 v44.1.0
 -------
 
diff --git a/changelog.d/2158.misc.rst b/changelog.d/2158.misc.rst
deleted file mode 100644
index 16a5a504..00000000
--- a/changelog.d/2158.misc.rst
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Avoid loading working set during ``Distribution.finalize_options`` prior to invoking ``_install_setup_requires``, broken since v42.0.0.
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index cb5ae73b..323d2cf5 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ universal = 1
 
 [metadata]
 name = setuptools
-version = 44.1.0
+version = 44.1.1
 description = Easily download, build, install, upgrade, and uninstall Python packages
 author = Python Packaging Authority
 author_email = distutils-sig@python.org