diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 94aaa21..f425ae8 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 language: c
-script: ./autogen.sh && ./configure && make V=0 && make distcheck
+script: ./.travis_build.sh
 
 # Compile using both gcc & clang
 compiler:
diff --git a/.travis_build.sh b/.travis_build.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..17c9419
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.travis_build.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Script to run automated build and testing on Travis-CI
+
+# Abort early in case of failure
+set -e
+
+# Generate the build files
+./autogen.sh
+
+# Create a temporary directory to store build artifacts
+rm -rf build
+mkdir build
+cd build
+
+# Run the configuration script
+../configure
+
+# Build and run any tests
+make V=0
+make check
+
+# Verify that the distribution works
+make distcheck
+