diff --git a/src/bindings/python/fluxacct/accounting/__init__.py.in b/src/bindings/python/fluxacct/accounting/__init__.py.in
index ec878759..c9de208a 100644
--- a/src/bindings/python/fluxacct/accounting/__init__.py.in
+++ b/src/bindings/python/fluxacct/accounting/__init__.py.in
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 db_dir = "@X_LOCALSTATEDIR@/lib/flux/"
 db_path = "@X_LOCALSTATEDIR@/lib/flux/FluxAccounting.db"
-db_schema_version = 20
+db_schema_version = 21
 
 __all__ = ["db_dir", "db_path", "db_schema_version"]
diff --git a/src/cmd/flux-account-service.py b/src/cmd/flux-account-service.py
index 181bf5c2..3240359e 100755
--- a/src/cmd/flux-account-service.py
+++ b/src/cmd/flux-account-service.py
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ def main():
     cur = conn.cursor()
     cur.execute("PRAGMA user_version")
     db_version = cur.fetchone()[0]
-    if db_version < 20:
+    if db_version < 21:
         LOGGER.error(
             "flux-accounting database out of date; please update DB with 'flux account-update-db' before running commands"
         )