diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index db7d87e..d2c6e2b 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,5 @@ script:
   - ./scripts/format-check.sh
   - ./bootstrap.sh -Dwith-examples=true
   - meson test -C build
-  - gamemoded -v
   - dbus-run-session -- gamemode-simulate-game
   - ./scripts/static-analyser-check.sh 
diff --git a/daemon/meson.build b/daemon/meson.build
index 5109db3..d6f1a72 100644
--- a/daemon/meson.build
+++ b/daemon/meson.build
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ daemon_sources = [
 gamemoded_includes = libgamemode_includes
 gamemoded_includes += config_h_dir
 
-executable(
+gamemoded = executable(
     'gamemoded',
     sources: daemon_sources,
     dependencies: [
@@ -28,4 +28,11 @@ executable(
         gamemoded_includes,
     ],
     install: true,
-)
\ No newline at end of file
+)
+
+# verify gamemoded compiled properly
+test(
+    'validate gamemoded compiled properly',
+    gamemoded,
+    args: ['-v'],
+)