diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 8cd82972f2..67c5f41e6f 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -9,10 +9,13 @@ matrix:
     include:
         - os: linux
           arch: arm64
+          env: wxCONFIGURE_FLAGS="--disable-sys-libs" wxLXC=1
         - os: linux
           arch: ppc64le
+          env: wxCONFIGURE_FLAGS="--disable-sys-libs" wxLXC=1
         - os: linux
           arch: s390x
+          env: wxCONFIGURE_FLAGS="--disable-sys-libs" wxLXC=1
 #        - dist: precise
 #          compiler: gcc
 #          env: wxUSE_XVFB=1
diff --git a/tests/test.cpp b/tests/test.cpp
index 6dce6f2249..22350ff04f 100644
--- a/tests/test.cpp
+++ b/tests/test.cpp
@@ -69,10 +69,6 @@ std::string wxTheCurrentTestClass, wxTheCurrentTestMethod;
 #endif // __WXGTK__
 #endif // wxUSE_GUI
 
-#ifdef __LINUX__
-    #include "wx/filename.h"
-#endif
-
 #include "wx/socket.h"
 #include "wx/evtloop.h"
 
@@ -426,9 +422,12 @@ extern bool IsRunningUnderXVFB()
 
 extern bool IsRunningInLXC()
 {
-    // This is simplistic but should work in the normal cases and can always be
-    // made more precise later if necessary.
-    return wxFileName::DirExists("/dev/lxd");
+    // We're supposed to be able to detect running in LXC by checking for
+    // /dev/lxd existency, but this doesn't work under Travis for some reason,
+    // so just rely on having the environment variable defined for the
+    // corresponding builds in our .travis.yml.
+    wxString value;
+    return wxGetEnv("wxLXC", &value) && value == "1";
 }
 
 #endif // __LINUX__