diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 4eba2f3a2..13f6a3c4d 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -3,16 +3,7 @@ rvm:
   - ree
   - 1.9.2
 
-before_script:
-  - ruby -e "system('rm Gemfile.lock') if RUBY_VERSION.include?('1.9')"
-  - ruby -e "system('bundle install') if RUBY_VERSION.include?('1.9')"
-  - "sudo aptitude -q -y install firefox"
-  - "sudo cp config/ci/xvfb /etc/init.d/xvfb"
-  - "sh -e /etc/init.d/xvfb start"
-  - "sass --update public/stylesheets/sass/:public/stylesheets/"
-  - "cp config/database.yml.example config/database.yml"
-  - "rake db:create"
-  - "rake db:schema:load"
+before_script: "./config/ci/before-travis.sh"
 
 script: "bundle exec rake travis"
 
diff --git a/config/ci/before-travis.sh b/config/ci/before-travis.sh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b28d1f746
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/ci/before-travis.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# Remove Gemfile.lock and rebundle on Ruby 1.9
+ruby -e "system('rm Gemfile.lock') if RUBY_VERSION.include?('1.9')"
+ruby -e "system('bundle install') if RUBY_VERSION.include?('1.9')"
+
+# adjust GC settings for REE
+export RUBY_HEAP_MIN_SLOTS=1000000
+export RUBY_HEAP_SLOTS_INCREMENT=1000000
+export RUBY_HEAP_SLOTS_GROWTH_FACTOR=1
+export RUBY_GC_MALLOC_LIMIT=1000000000
+export RUBY_HEAP_FREE_MIN=500000
+
+# Install firefox and start xvfb in preparation for cucumber & jasmine
+sudo aptitude -q2 -y install firefox
+sudo cp config/ci/xvfb /etc/init.d/xvfb
+sh -e /etc/init.d/xvfb start
+
+# Regenerate css files
+sass --update public/stylesheets/sass/:public/stylesheets/
+
+# Set up database
+cp config/database.yml.example config/database.yml
+rake db:create
+rake db:schema:load