diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 89192c6b..40d7fdb5 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Version 2.4.1-alpha.1+timestamp.2012.12.23.15.06.58
+Version 2.4.1-alpha.1+timestamp.2012.12.23.22.11.34
diff --git a/gluon/utils.py b/gluon/utils.py
index 5ec2482f..85468730 100644
--- a/gluon/utils.py
+++ b/gluon/utils.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ DIGEST_ALG_BY_SIZE = {
 }
 
 
-def pad(s, n=32, padchar='.'):
+def pad(s, n=32, padchar=' '):
     return s + (32 - len(s) % 32) * padchar