diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 3dc5fe290..85a57f6e3 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -26,8 +26,13 @@ matrix:
 #
 #    - <<: *test-ubuntu
       os: linux-ppc64le
-      before_script:
+      before_script: &common-before
         - COMMON_FLAGS="DYNAMIC_ARCH=1 TARGET=POWER8 NUM_THREADS=32"
+      script:
+        - make QUIET_MAKE=1 $COMMON_FLAGS $BTYPE
+        - make -C test $COMMON_FLAGS $BTYPE
+        - make -C ctest $COMMON_FLAGS $BTYPE
+        - make -C utest $COMMON_FLAGS $BTYPE
       env:
         # for matrix annotation only
         - TARGET_BOX=PPC64LE_LINUX