diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 656ac257a..0dcfac089 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ script:
  - if [[ ${COVERAGE} != true ]]; then
      make bench;
    fi
- - if [[ ${TEST_RESULT} != 0 ]]; then exit $TEST_RESULT ; fi;
+ - if [[ ${TEST_RESULT:-0} != 0 ]]; then exit $TEST_RESULT ; fi;
  - if [[ ${MASON_PUBLISH} == true ]]; then
      ./mason_latest.sh build;
      ./mason_latest.sh link;