diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 70d33c971c..3f68206ac9 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 language: node_js
 sudo: false
+# force precise to avoid a timeout in karma
+dist: precise
 node_js:
   - '6.9.5'