diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 876417e816..fb14dcd88c 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@ cache:
   - $HOME/.cache/pip
   - .arca/cache
 install:
-- python -m pip install pipenv --upgrade
+- python -m pip install --upgrade 'pip<18.1' 'pipenv<2018.10.9'
 - pipenv install --deploy --dev
+- pipenv install git+https://github.com/pyvec/arca.git@pip_pipenv#egg=arca
 before_script:  # encrypted variables aren't accessible in PRs
 - 'if [ -n "$DOCKER_HUB_PASSWORD" ]; then docker login -u "$DOCKER_HUB_USERNAME" -p "$DOCKER_HUB_PASSWORD"; fi'
 - 'if [ -z "$DOCKER_HUB_PASSWORD" ]; then export ARCA_BACKEND_REGISTRY_PULL_ONLY=true; fi'