diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b825f7d7fd8..bf3d4c41ae5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ With snap, in any of the [supported Linux distributions](https://snapcraft.io/do
 
 #### Install Go
 
-The build process for ipfs requires Go 1.7 or higher. If you don't have it: [Download Go 1.7+](https://golang.org/dl/).
+The build process for ipfs requires Go 1.8 or higher. If you don't have it: [Download Go 1.8+](https://golang.org/dl/).
 
 
 You'll need to add Go's bin directories to your `$PATH` environment variable e.g., by adding these lines to your `/etc/profile` (for a system-wide installation) or `$HOME/.profile`:
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ mismatched APIs.
 * Also, [instructions for OpenBSD](docs/openbsd.md).
 * `git` is required in order for `go get` to fetch all dependencies.
 * Package managers often contain out-of-date `golang` packages.
-  Ensure that `go version` reports at least 1.7. See above for how to install go.
+  Ensure that `go version` reports at least 1.8. See above for how to install go.
 * If you are interested in development, please install the development
 dependencies as well.
 * *WARNING: Older versions of OSX FUSE (for Mac OS X) can cause kernel panics when mounting!*
diff --git a/bin/Rules.mk b/bin/Rules.mk
index 42b571f6efc..9d281f50ef2 100644
--- a/bin/Rules.mk
+++ b/bin/Rules.mk
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 include mk/header.mk
 
-dist_root_$(d)=/ipfs/QmNjXP6N98fYT1i7abgeBHmdR5WoeBeik4DtGiX9iFWK31
+dist_root_$(d)=/ipfs/QmR27Do9gqx9VmuQTEX1UGXETSWYJTQzPzxS5FNUnySCv1
 
-$(d)/gx: $(d)/gx-v0.11.0
-$(d)/gx-go: $(d)/gx-go-v1.4.0
+$(d)/gx: $(d)/gx-v0.12.0
+$(d)/gx-go: $(d)/gx-go-v1.5.0
 
 TGTS_$(d) := $(d)/gx $(d)/gx-go
 DISTCLEAN += $(wildcard $(d)/gx-v*) $(wildcard $(d)/gx-go-v*) $(d)/tmp
diff --git a/mk/golang.mk b/mk/golang.mk
index ada0c977124..75490f17610 100644
--- a/mk/golang.mk
+++ b/mk/golang.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # golang utilities
-GO_MIN_VERSION = 1.7
+GO_MIN_VERSION = 1.8
 
 # pre-definitions
 GOTAGS ?=
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 0cafe5da62b..ee877b0c543 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   },
   "gx": {
     "dvcsimport": "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs",
-    "goversion": "1.7"
+    "goversion": "1.8"
   },
   "gxDependencies": [
     {