diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 74bd770b..9f45b7bd 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -27,5 +27,7 @@ script:
     - mkdir for_test
     - cd for_test
     - nosetests-$PYVER --exe -v --cover-package=skimage skimage
+    # run all examples
     - cd ..
+    - echo 'backend : Agg' > matplotlibrc
     - make run-all-examples