diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index e6111e8790..6f08335eb5 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ matrix:
     - python: 2.7
       env:
         - INSTALL_TYPE=requirements
+    - python: 2.7
+      env:
+        - INSTALL_TYPE=archive
     - python: 2.7
       env:
         - CHECK_TYPE="style"
@@ -122,6 +125,9 @@ install:
       elif [ "$INSTALL_TYPE" == "requirements" ]; then
           pip install $EXTRA_PIP_FLAGS -r requirements.txt
           python setup.py install
+      elif [ "$INSTALL_TYPE" == "archive" ]; then
+          git archive -o package.tar.gz HEAD
+          pip install $EXTRA_PIP_FLAGS package.tar.gz
       fi
     # Point to nibabel data directory
     - export NIBABEL_DATA_DIR="$PWD/nibabel-data"