diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 0300d03..bf28d6f 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -38,18 +38,21 @@ install:
   if [[ "$TRAVIS_BRANCH" == "release" ]]; then
     conda install landlab -c conda-forge
   else
+    source deactivate _testing
     pushd ../..
     git clone --depth=50 https://github.com/landlab/landlab.git landlab/landlab
     pushd landlab/landlab
     git fetch origin master
     git checkout -qf master
     git submodule update --init --recursive
+    conda create -n landlab_dev python=$TRAVIS_PYTHON_VERSION
     conda env update --file environment-dev.yml
     conda activate landlab_dev
     python setup.py develop
     popd
     popd
   fi
+- conda info -a && conda list
 - conda install --file=requirements.txt
 - conda info -a && conda list
 script: