diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 652fc236..162d1f47 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -23,9 +23,10 @@ before_script:
   - export PROVIDER_VERSION=latest
   - export ADDRESS_FILE="${HOME}/.ocean/ocean-contracts/artifacts/address.json"
   - export AQUARIUS_URI="http://172.15.0.5:5000"
+  - export DEPLOY_CONTRACTS=true
   - bash -x start_ocean.sh --no-dashboard 2>&1 > start_ocean.log &
   - cd ..
-  - sleep 300
+  - ./scripts/waitforcontracts.sh
 
 script:
   - npm test
diff --git a/scripts/waitforcontracts.sh b/scripts/waitforcontracts.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eef49198
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/waitforcontracts.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+if [ "${DEPLOY_CONTRACTS}" = "true" ]; then
+  while [ ! -f "${HOME}/.ocean/ocean-contracts/artifacts/ready" ]; do
+    sleep 2
+  done
+fi