diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 7769ea46c..43a519ce4 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@ language: c
 
 sudo: false
 
-# for c++14 support (upgrades clang from 6 -> 7)
-osx_image: xcode7
-
 git:
   depth: 10
   submodules: true
@@ -38,9 +35,11 @@ matrix:
           packages: [ 'gcc-4.9', 'g++-4.9', 'libstdc++-4.9-dev', 'libstdc++6' ]
     - os: osx
       compiler: clang
+      osx_image: xcode7 # for c++14 support (upgrades clang from 6 -> 7)
       env: JOBS=8 MASON_PUBLISH=true
     - os: osx
       compiler: clang
+      osx_image: xcode7 # for c++14 support (upgrades clang from 6 -> 7)
       env: JOBS=8 COVERAGE=true
 
 before_install: