diff --git a/.bumpversion.cfg b/.bumpversion.cfg
index 87764b5..a5ca303 100644
--- a/.bumpversion.cfg
+++ b/.bumpversion.cfg
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [bumpversion]
-current_version = 0.9.8
+current_version = 0.9.9
 files = SQLTools.py
 tag = True
 commit = True
diff --git a/SQLTools.py b/SQLTools.py
index 610ffda..60e5114 100644
--- a/SQLTools.py
+++ b/SQLTools.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-__version__ = "v0.9.8"
+__version__ = "v0.9.9"
 
 import sys
 import os
diff --git a/messages.json b/messages.json
index dfec0af..fc8e42e 100644
--- a/messages.json
+++ b/messages.json
@@ -13,5 +13,6 @@
     "0.9.5": "messages/v0.9.5.md",
     "0.9.6": "messages/v0.9.6.md",
     "0.9.7": "messages/v0.9.7.md",
-    "0.9.8": "messages/v0.9.8.md"
+    "0.9.8": "messages/v0.9.8.md",
+    "0.9.9": "messages/v0.9.9.md"
 }
diff --git a/messages/v0.9.9.md b/messages/v0.9.9.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..486d847
--- /dev/null
+++ b/messages/v0.9.9.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+## v0.9.9 Notes
+
+### Improvements
+
+* Use `utf-8` encoding if Connection `encoding` is not a valid python encoding
+
+
+### Fixes
+
+* Exception when Connection `encoding` is set to null [#177]