diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 8fb4d24d7..e339b4f98 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -4,3 +4,8 @@ addons:
   postgresql: "9.3"
 before_script:
   - psql -c 'create database dbapi_test;' -U postgres
+before_install:
+  - travis_retry sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:hvr/ghc
+  - travis_retry sudo apt-get update
+  - travis_retry sudo apt-get install --force-yes happy-1.19.3 alex-3.1.3
+  - export PATH=/opt/alex/3.1.3/bin:/opt/happy/1.19.3/bin:$PATH