diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 19c6b68bc..eb7ba0eb0 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ include ( "cmake/checkOutOfSource.cmake" )
 # Declare project name
 #---------------------
 project (
-    jsonfortran 
-    VERSION 8.3.0
+    jsonfortran
+    VERSION 8.4.0
     LANGUAGES Fortran
 )
 
diff --git a/pages/development-resources/release-checklist.md b/pages/development-resources/release-checklist.md
index fb99d2a07..0678a3019 100644
--- a/pages/development-resources/release-checklist.md
+++ b/pages/development-resources/release-checklist.md
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ remain accurate.
         string
 	 1. Add `pages/releases/index.md` to the git index: `git add pages/releases/index.md`
  1. Update the version string in remaining files requiring manual edits:
-     1. Edit the product version in cmake
-     1. Run cmake to product the .VERSION file
-     1. Edit the CMake example on line 142 of `README.md`
+     1. Edit the product version in CMake
+     1. Run cmake to generate the `.VERSION` file  (or manually update this file if not running CMake)
+     1. Edit the CMake example on line 141 of `README.md`
      1. Edit the `json_fortran_version` string in `json_module.F90`
 	 1. Add these files to the git index: `git add .VERSION README.md ./src/json_module.F90`
  1. Commit the changes to the master branch: `git commit`