diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index fe7aa431d8..404d5a3a1b 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ before_script:
   - psql --version
 
   # initialize databases
-  - mysql -e 'CREATE DATABASE `yiitest`;';
+  - travis_retry mysql -e 'CREATE DATABASE `yiitest`;';
   - mysql -e "CREATE USER 'travis'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password;";
   - mysql -e "GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO 'travis'@'localhost' WITH GRANT OPTION;";
   - psql -U postgres -c 'CREATE DATABASE yiitest;';