diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 7ed278574..3aa5f2648 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ before_install:
   - conda install -q pip coverage anaconda-client migen cython
   - pip install coveralls
 install:
+  # workaround for https://github.com/conda/conda-build/issues/466
+  - mkdir -p /home/travis/miniconda/conda-bld/linux-64
+  - conda index /home/travis/miniconda/conda-bld/linux-64
   - conda build --python 3.5 conda/artiq
   - conda install -q artiq --use-local
 script:
diff --git a/conda/artiq/meta.yaml b/conda/artiq/meta.yaml
index e96b8d4bb..2edbdd7c1 100644
--- a/conda/artiq/meta.yaml
+++ b/conda/artiq/meta.yaml
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ source:
     git_tag: master
 
 build:
+    noarch_python: True
     number: {{ environ.get("GIT_DESCRIBE_NUMBER", 0) }}
     entry_points:
         - artiq_client = artiq.frontend.artiq_client:main