diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 090e041066..5cc141a51d 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -70,4 +70,8 @@ before_install:
       popd
     fi
 script:
+  - |
+    if [[ "$(uname)" = "Darwin" ]]; then
+      export SHORT=1 # FIXME: macOS tests take too long, workaround by running short tests
+    fi
   - ./test.py -j2
diff --git a/language/travis.py b/language/travis.py
index b1ba52eece..7d87da5ec8 100755
--- a/language/travis.py
+++ b/language/travis.py
@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@
 from __future__ import print_function
 import argparse, os, platform, subprocess
 
-def test(root_dir, install_only, debug, spy, gcov, hdf5, openmp, env):
+def test(root_dir, install_only, debug, short, spy, gcov, hdf5, openmp, env):
     threads = ['-j', '2'] if 'TRAVIS' in env else []
     terra = ['--with-terra', env['TERRA_DIR']] if 'TERRA_DIR' in env else []
     debug_flag = ['--debug'] if debug else []
+    short_flag = ['--short'] if short else []
     inner_flag = ['--extra=-flegion-inner', '--extra=0'] if 'DISABLE_INNER' in env else []
     if 'USE_RDIR' in env:
         regent_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ def test(root_dir, install_only, debug, spy, gcov, hdf5, openmp, env):
         if not spy and not gcov and not hdf5 and not openmp: extra_flags.append('--debug')
 
         subprocess.check_call(
-            ['time', './test.py', '-q'] + threads + extra_flags + inner_flag,
+            ['time', './test.py', '-q'] + threads + short + extra_flags + inner_flag,
             env = env,
             cwd = root_dir)
 
@@ -69,8 +70,9 @@ def test(root_dir, install_only, debug, spy, gcov, hdf5, openmp, env):
     })
 
     debug = env['DEBUG'] == '1'
+    short = 'SHORT' in env and env['SHORT'] == '1'
     spy = 'TEST_SPY' in env and env['TEST_SPY'] == '1'
     gcov = 'TEST_GCOV' in env and env['TEST_GCOV'] == '1'
     hdf5 = 'TEST_HDF' in env and env['TEST_HDF'] == '1'
     openmp = 'TEST_OPENMP' in env and env['TEST_OPENMP'] == '1'
-    test(root_dir, args.install_only, debug, spy, gcov, hdf5, openmp, env)
+    test(root_dir, args.install_only, debug, short, spy, gcov, hdf5, openmp, env)