diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 6acb037cc..565a44899 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -23,5 +23,7 @@ install:
 
 script:
   - make -C docs html
-  # Minimal test: can the alot package be imported?
-  - python -c 'import alot'
+  # Minimal test: Start alot in order to quit immediatly.
+  - |
+    echo 'initial_command=call os._exit(0)' > conf
+    alot --config conf