diff --git a/GNUmakefile b/GNUmakefile
index c1ae29a15..72fd267b2 100644
--- a/GNUmakefile
+++ b/GNUmakefile
@@ -77,6 +77,5 @@ install: bin/nomad
 travis:
 	@sudo apt-get install -y qemu
 	@sh -c "'$(PWD)/scripts/update_docker.sh'"
-	@sh -c "'$(PWD)/scripts/install_rkt.sh'"
 
 .PHONY: all bin cov integ test vet web web-push test-nodep
diff --git a/client/driver/rkt_test.go b/client/driver/rkt_test.go
index 0c5c08850..5a4c84dbc 100644
--- a/client/driver/rkt_test.go
+++ b/client/driver/rkt_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package driver
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"reflect"
 	"strings"
@@ -18,6 +19,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestRktVersionRegex(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Getenv("NOMAD_TEST_RKT") == "" {
+		t.Skip("skipping rkt tests")
+	}
+
 	input_rkt := "rkt version 0.8.1"
 	input_appc := "appc version 1.2.0"
 	expected_rkt := "0.8.1"
@@ -34,6 +39,10 @@ func TestRktVersionRegex(t *testing.T) {
 
 // The fingerprinter test should always pass, even if rkt is not installed.
 func TestRktDriver_Fingerprint(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Getenv("NOMAD_TEST_RKT") == "" {
+		t.Skip("skipping rkt tests")
+	}
+
 	ctestutils.RktCompatible(t)
 	driverCtx, _ := testDriverContexts(&structs.Task{Name: "foo"})
 	d := NewRktDriver(driverCtx)
@@ -59,6 +68,10 @@ func TestRktDriver_Fingerprint(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRktDriver_Start_DNS(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Getenv("NOMAD_TEST_RKT") == "" {
+		t.Skip("skipping rkt tests")
+	}
+
 	ctestutils.RktCompatible(t)
 	// TODO: use test server to load from a fixture
 	task := &structs.Task{
@@ -105,6 +118,10 @@ func TestRktDriver_Start_DNS(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRktDriver_Start_Wait(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Getenv("NOMAD_TEST_RKT") == "" {
+		t.Skip("skipping rkt tests")
+	}
+
 	ctestutils.RktCompatible(t)
 	task := &structs.Task{
 		Name: "etcd",
@@ -154,6 +171,10 @@ func TestRktDriver_Start_Wait(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRktDriver_Start_Wait_Skip_Trust(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Getenv("NOMAD_TEST_RKT") == "" {
+		t.Skip("skipping rkt tests")
+	}
+
 	ctestutils.RktCompatible(t)
 	task := &structs.Task{
 		Name: "etcd",
@@ -202,6 +223,10 @@ func TestRktDriver_Start_Wait_Skip_Trust(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRktDriver_Start_Wait_AllocDir(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Getenv("NOMAD_TEST_RKT") == "" {
+		t.Skip("skipping rkt tests")
+	}
+
 	ctestutils.RktCompatible(t)
 
 	exp := []byte{'w', 'i', 'n'}
@@ -262,6 +287,10 @@ func TestRktDriver_Start_Wait_AllocDir(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRktDriverUser(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Getenv("NOMAD_TEST_RKT") == "" {
+		t.Skip("skipping rkt tests")
+	}
+
 	ctestutils.RktCompatible(t)
 	task := &structs.Task{
 		Name: "etcd",