diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index da2f6b2..462f446 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -3,5 +3,8 @@ language: python
 install:
     - pip install tox six
 
-before_script: mysql -e 'create database mysqldb_test charset utf8;'
+before_script:
+    - "mysql --help"
+    - "mysql --print-defaults"
+    - "mysql -e 'create database mysqldb_test charset utf8mb4;'"
 script: TESTDB=travis.cnf tox
diff --git a/tests/travis.cnf b/tests/travis.cnf
index eb37c29..483b76f 100644
--- a/tests/travis.cnf
+++ b/tests/travis.cnf
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 [MySQLdb-tests]
 host = 127.0.0.1
+port = 3306
 user = root
 database = mysqldb_test
 #password =