diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 587967b8..3b2751a0 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