diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 3e31f84d9..0ca5447df 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ matrix:
   exclude:
     - compiler: clang
       env: CXXFLAGS="-O3 -march=native -mtune=native" SRCDIR=build CHECK_KERNEL=yes
+# kernel check can time out during travis rush hour, so make failure of it less grave...
+  allow_failures:
+    - env: CXXFLAGS="-O3 -march=native -mtune=native" SRCDIR=build CHECK_KERNEL=yes
 
 before_install:
 # install needed deps