diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 8eb605757..cf984c634 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@ node_js:
 - 4
 
 before_install:
-# building vere directly in lieu of a working debian package script
 # pwd: ~/urbit/arvo
-- cd ../
+- cd .travis/
+- bash check-trailing-whitespace.sh
+- cd ../../
+# pwd: ~/urbit
+# building vere directly in lieu of a working debian package script
 - wget https://github.com/ninja-build/ninja/releases/download/v1.8.2/ninja-linux.zip
 - unzip ninja-linux.zip
 - sudo mv ninja /usr/bin/
diff --git a/.travis/check-trailing-whitespace.sh b/.travis/check-trailing-whitespace.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..323aa4924
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.travis/check-trailing-whitespace.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+whitespace=$(find .. -path ../.git -prune -o \
+             -type f -exec egrep -l " +$" {} \;);
+
+if [ ! -z $whitespace ]
+then
+  echo 'found trailing whitespace in:';
+  echo $whitespace;
+  exit 1;
+fi