diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 00688f446..c6980d64e 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ install:
   # Do not buffer python outputs; flush them directly to the terminal
   - export PYTHONUNBUFFERED=true
   # Sets up a miniconda environment
-  - source devtools/ci/install.sh
+  - source devtools/ci/miniconda_install.sh
   - conda install --yes conda-build
   - conda build --quiet devtools/conda-recipe
   - conda create --quiet --yes --name test --use-local openpathsampling-dev
diff --git a/devtools/ci/install.sh b/devtools/ci/miniconda_install.sh
similarity index 82%
rename from devtools/ci/install.sh
rename to devtools/ci/miniconda_install.sh
index 632ea6f4c..0767d8f03 100644
--- a/devtools/ci/install.sh
+++ b/devtools/ci/miniconda_install.sh
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@ then
 fi
 
 pyV=${CONDA_PY:0:1}
+conda_version="latest"
+#conda_version="4.4.10"  # can pin a miniconda version like this, if needed
 
-MINICONDA=Miniconda${pyV}-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh
+MINICONDA=Miniconda${pyV}-${conda_version}-Linux-x86_64.sh
 MINICONDA_MD5=$(curl -s https://repo.continuum.io/miniconda/ | grep -A3 $MINICONDA | sed -n '4p' | sed -n 's/ *<td>\(.*\)<\/td> */\1/p')
 wget https://repo.continuum.io/miniconda/$MINICONDA
 if [[ $MINICONDA_MD5 != $(md5sum $MINICONDA | cut -d ' ' -f 1) ]]; then