diff --git a/client/driver/qemu_test.go b/client/driver/qemu_test.go
index c81744d9f60..83f4a29df29 100644
--- a/client/driver/qemu_test.go
+++ b/client/driver/qemu_test.go
@@ -125,12 +125,14 @@ func TestQemuDriver_StartOpen_Wait(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestQemuDriver_GracefulShutdown(t *testing.T) {
-	logger := testLogger()
+	testutil.SkipSlow(t)
 	if !testutil.IsTravis() {
 		t.Parallel()
 	}
 	ctestutils.QemuCompatible(t)
 
+	logger := testLogger()
+
 	// Graceful shutdown may be really slow unfortunately
 	killTimeout := 3 * time.Minute
 
diff --git a/scripts/travis.sh b/scripts/travis.sh
index 8e500f79378..541bbb587e6 100755
--- a/scripts/travis.sh
+++ b/scripts/travis.sh
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ if [ "$RUN_STATIC_CHECKS" ]; then
     fi
 fi
 
-make test
+NOMAD_SLOW_TEST=1 make test
 TEST_OUTPUT=$?
 
 kill $PING_LOOP_PID
diff --git a/testutil/slow.go b/testutil/slow.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1a80880245e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testutil/slow.go
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+package testutil
+
+import (
+	"os"
+
+	testing "github.com/mitchellh/go-testing-interface"
+)
+
+// SkipSlow skips a slow test unless the NOMAD_SLOW_TEST environment variable
+// is set.
+func SkipSlow(t testing.T) {
+	if os.Getenv("NOMAD_SLOW_TEST") == "" {
+		t.Skip("Skipping slow test. Set NOMAD_SLOW_TEST=1 to run.")
+	}
+}