diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 1df9472..915a354 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ matrix:
     - env: CEPH_VERSION=luminous
     - env: CEPH_VERSION=mimic
     - env: CEPH_VERSION=nautilus
+    # use 'master' for soon-to-be-released 'octopus' until we have proper
+    # octopus named tags on containers
+    - env: CEPH_VERSION=master
 
 before_install: |
   make ci-image CEPH_VERSION=${CEPH_VERSION}