diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 5b6fc47cee22e49a1667c31d5d118120cc6a7e4f..107b3ab70b369e2baac8da19b9f2f55fcd0b8ad7 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -53,7 +53,9 @@ matrix:
   - python: 3.6
     env: TOX_ENV=check_isort
 
-  - python: 3.6
+  - # we only need to check for the newsfragment if it's a PR build
+    if: type = pull_request
+    python: 3.6
     env: TOX_ENV=check-newsfragment
 
 install: