diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index b8a0763..4cd1d51 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 os:
   - linux
   - osx
+pre_install:
+  - if [[ "$TRAVIS_OS_NAME" == "osx" ]]; then bash -x macos_ci_setup.sh; fi
 install:
   - cd ./conda_pkg
-  - if [[ "$TRAVIS_OS_NAME" == "osx" ]]; then bash -x macos_ci_setup.sh; fi
   - if [[ "$TRAVIS_OS_NAME" == "osx" ]]; then wget https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-MacOSX-x86_64.sh
     -O miniconda.sh; else wget https://repo.continuum.io/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh
     -O miniconda.sh; fi
diff --git a/conda_pkg/README.md b/conda_pkg/README.md
index acd4b7e..6c4dd0a 100644
--- a/conda_pkg/README.md
+++ b/conda_pkg/README.md
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
-This directory contains the recipe for building a conda package for CoFFEE.
+# Conda package wrapping CoFFEE project
 
-To use/test:
+To use -- with current working directory containing meta.yaml:
 
-First create a conda build environment with the tools needed to run the `conda-build` command
-
-1. `conda create -n conda-build-env python=3.6`
+1. `conda create -n python=3 conda-build-env conda-build anaconda-client conda-verify`
 2. `conda activate conda-build-env`
-3. `conda install conda-build conda-verify anaconda-client`
+3. `conda-build . -c conda-forge`
+
+## Build Environment setup requirements (macOS)
 
-Then run `conda-build .` from this directory (NOTE: this does not modify your `conda-build-env` -- you can reuse this environment to test conda package build process and don't have to recreate it everytime)
+Ensure install of the [macOS 10.9 sdk](https://github.com/phracker/MacOSX-SDKs/releases).
 
-1. `conda-build .`
+(you can use this script but check what it does first to confirm you are happy with the modifications it will perform)
+bash -x macos_ci_setup.sh
diff --git a/conda_pkg/macos_ci_setup.sh b/conda_pkg/macos_ci_setup.sh
index ec06293..6802b19 100644
--- a/conda_pkg/macos_ci_setup.sh
+++ b/conda_pkg/macos_ci_setup.sh
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 #!/bin/bash -x
 
-# needed for some tests
-brew install tree wget
+brew install wget
+
+sudo mkdir -p /opt && sudo chown $(whoami) /opt && sudo chmod u+w /opt
 
 # install MacOS 10.9 sdk to /opt/MacOSX10.9.sdk
 (
-    sudo mkdir -p /opt
-    sudo chmod oug+w /opt
     cd /opt
     wget https://github.com/phracker/MacOSX-SDKs/releases/download/10.13/MacOSX10.9.sdk.tar.xz
     tar -xf MacOSX10.9.sdk.tar.xz