diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index e1a6f287e..f96b812a2 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ env:
   - DB=mysql BUILD_TYPE=cucumber
 
 before_install: gem install bundler --pre
-bundler_args: "--without development"
+bundler_args: "--without development production"
 before_script: "./config/ci/before-travis.sh"
 script: "bundle exec rake travis"
 
diff --git a/Gemfile b/Gemfile
index 5dd5047bf..f1b629c5e 100644
--- a/Gemfile
+++ b/Gemfile
@@ -22,13 +22,27 @@ gem 'omniauth-twitter'
 gem 'twitter', '2.0.2'
 
 # backups
-
 gem 'cloudfiles', '1.4.10', :require => false
 
-# chef
+# mail
+gem 'messagebus_ruby_api', '0.4.8'
 
-gem 'chef', '~> 0.10.4', :require => false
-gem 'ohai', '~> 0.6.10', :require => false
+
+# web sockets
+gem 'em-synchrony', :platforms => :ruby_19
+
+group :production do # we don't install these on travis to speed up test runs
+  # chef
+  gem 'chef', '~> 0.10.4', :require => false
+  gem 'ohai', '~> 0.6.10', :require => false
+
+  # reporting
+  gem 'hoptoad_notifier'
+  gem 'newrelic_rpm', :require => false
+
+  # web sockets
+  gem 'em-websocket'
+end
 
 # configuration
 
@@ -76,15 +90,6 @@ gem 'resque-ensure-connected'
 gem 'resque-timeout', '1.0.0'
 gem 'SystemTimer', '1.2.3', :platforms => :ruby_18
 
-# reporting
-
-gem 'hoptoad_notifier'
-gem 'newrelic_rpm', :require => false
-
-#mail
-
-gem 'messagebus_ruby_api', '0.4.8'
-
 # tags
 
 gem 'acts-as-taggable-on', :git => 'git://github.com/diaspora/acts-as-taggable-on.git'
@@ -108,11 +113,6 @@ gem 'client_side_validations'
 gem 'faraday'
 gem 'faraday-stack'
 
-# web sockets
-
-gem 'em-synchrony', :platforms => :ruby_19
-gem 'em-websocket'
-
 # jazzy jasmine
 
 gem 'jasmine', '~> 1.1.2'