diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 14fe13851..afba7f9c6 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ env:
 # LINUX_BUILD - set for linux builds
 # APPLE_BUILD - set for OSX builds
 # ANDROID_BUILD - set for android builds
+#
+# RELEASE_BUILD - set if a cmake should be set to a release build
 
 matrix:
   fast_finish: true
@@ -38,6 +40,11 @@ matrix:
       sudo: required
       env: LINUX_BUILD=1
       compiler: clang
+    - os: linux
+      dist: trusty
+      sudo: required
+      env: LINUX_BUILD=1 RELEASE_BUILD=1
+      compiler: clang
     - os: linux
       dist: trusty
       sudo: required
diff --git a/scripts/travis/linux_compile.sh b/scripts/travis/linux_compile.sh
index 3e2c21e62..3efb4780b 100644
--- a/scripts/travis/linux_compile.sh
+++ b/scripts/travis/linux_compile.sh
@@ -15,5 +15,9 @@ fi
 
 mkdir build
 cd build
-cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug ..
+if [[ "$RELEASE_BUILD" == "1" ]]; then
+	cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release ..
+else
+	cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug ..
+fi
 make