diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index f20e76ae9..5836e564e 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ git:
   # a higher depth is needed for most of the tests - must be high enough to not actually be shallow
   # as we clone our own repository in the process
   depth: 99999
+env:
+  # test with paths containing the unicode characters
+  - TMPDIR="/tmp/ссылка"
 install:
   - python --version; git --version
   - git submodule update --init --recursive
@@ -28,6 +31,8 @@ install:
   - pip install codecov sphinx
   - if [ "$TRAVIS_PYTHON_VERSION" == '2.6' ]; then pip install unittest2; fi
 
+  - if [ ! -z "$TMPDIR" ]; then echo "Symlinking $TMPDIR"; ln -s /tmp "$TMPDIR"; fi
+
   # generate some reflog as git-python tests need it (in master)
   - ./init-tests-after-clone.sh