diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 0e2bf5e73..da99e90e6 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -13,12 +13,30 @@ cache:
     - "$HOME/.npm"
     - "$HOME/.cache"
 
+env:
+  - CANARY=false
+  - CANARY=true
+
+matrix:
+  fast_finish: true
+  allow_failures:
+    - env: CANARY=true
+
 branches:
   only:
     - master # otherwise pull requests get built twice
 
 install:
-  - yarn install
+  - |
+    if $CANARY; then
+      yarn upgrade && yarn add firebase@canary
+    else
+      if [ "$TRAVIS_BRANCH" = "master" -a "$TRAVIS_PULL_REQUEST" = "false" ]; then
+        yarn upgrade
+      else
+        yarn install --frozen-lockfile
+      fi
+    fi
 
 script:
   - yarn run build