diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 73d3696b8c..a6e0fd195c 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ go_import_path: github.com/kata-containers/runtime
 go:
   - "1.10.x"
 
+env:
+  - target_branch=$TRAVIS_BRANCH
+
 before_script:
   - ".ci/static-checks.sh"