diff --git a/tools/travis_test.sh b/tools/travis_test.sh
index 78d406a7..2b8588de 100755
--- a/tools/travis_test.sh
+++ b/tools/travis_test.sh
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ echo 'backend.qt4 : '$MPL_QT_API >> $MPL_DIR/matplotlibrc
 
 tools/header.py "Run tests with all dependencies"
 # run tests again with optional dependencies to get more coverage
-TEST_ARGS='--exe -v --with-doctest --ignore-files="skimage/external/*"'
+TEST_ARGS='--exe -v --with-doctest --exclude="skimage/external/*"'
 if [[ $TRAVIS_PYTHON_VERSION == 3.3 ]]; then
     TEST_ARGS="$TEST_ARGS --with-cov --cover-package skimage"
 fi