diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index de04d4c73..78f05fa65 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ matrix:
     - os: linux
       sudo: false
       compiler: ": clang"
-      env: JOBS=8 MASON_PUBLISH=true CXX="ccache clang++-3.5 -Qunused-arguments" CC="clang-3.5" BENCH=True
+      env: JOBS=8 MASON_PUBLISH=true CXX="ccache clang++-3.5 -Qunused-arguments" CC="clang-3.5"
       addons:
         apt:
           sources: [ 'ubuntu-toolchain-r-test', 'llvm-toolchain-precise-3.5' ]
diff --git a/benchmark/run b/benchmark/run
index 6850f8326..6a8fdd938 100755
--- a/benchmark/run
+++ b/benchmark/run
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ run test_face_ptr_creation 10 1000
 run test_font_registration 10 100
 run test_offset_converter 10 1000
 
+# commented since this is really slow on travis
+: '
 ./benchmark/out/test_rendering \
   --name "text rendering" \
   --map benchmark/data/roads.xml \
@@ -37,6 +39,7 @@ run test_offset_converter 10 1000
   --height 600 \
   --iterations 20 \
   --threads 10
+'
 
 ./benchmark/out/test_rendering \
   --name "gdal tiff rendering" \