diff --git a/.github/prehooks/pre-commit b/.github/prehooks/pre-commit
index 4213327e..6233cd9d 100755
--- a/.github/prehooks/pre-commit
+++ b/.github/prehooks/pre-commit
@@ -121,9 +121,11 @@ fi
 
 # Prepend the version number to the commit message
 if [ -f "$COMMIT_MSG_PATH" ]; then
-  # Prepend the version number
-  echo "(v${currentversion}) ${COMMIT_MSG}" > "$COMMIT_MSG_PATH"
-  echo "- prepended version number to commit message"
+    COMMIT_MSG=$(cat "$COMMIT_MSG_PATH")
+    echo "Current commit message: $COMMIT_MSG"  # Debug line
+    echo "(v${currentversion}) ${COMMIT_MSG}" > "$COMMIT_MSG_PATH"
+    echo "- prepended version number to commit message"
+    echo "Updated commit message: $(cat "$COMMIT_MSG_PATH")"  # Debug line
 else
   echo ""
   echo "Commit message file not found. Unable to prepend version number."
diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 1186fd88..e62351c6 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 Package: AMR
-Version: 2.1.1.9038
+Version: 2.1.1.9039
 Date: 2024-06-04
 Title: Antimicrobial Resistance Data Analysis
 Description: Functions to simplify and standardise antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 426002ee..19ed544c 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# AMR 2.1.1.9038
+# AMR 2.1.1.9039
 
 *(this beta version will eventually become v3.0. We're happy to reach a new major milestone soon, which will be all about the new One Health support!)*