diff --git a/ci/travis-install.sh b/ci/travis-install.sh
index b455fd3e..c28a4111 100755
--- a/ci/travis-install.sh
+++ b/ci/travis-install.sh
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ NULL=
 # ci_configopts: Additional arguments for configure
 : "${ci_configopts:=}"
 
+# ci_pkgs: Additional packages to be installed
+: "${ci_pkgs:=}"
+
 if [ $(id -u) = 0 ]; then
     sudo=
 else