diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 4969a7d2..3eda401f 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -30,5 +30,5 @@ script:
     - nosetests-$PYVER --exe -v --cover-package=skimage skimage
     # run all examples
     - cd ..
-    - echo 'backend :: Agg' >> matplotlibrc
+    - "echo 'backend \: Agg' > matplotlibrc"
     - make run-all-examples