2 files changed, 3 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 64ed69aa8..2447360f5 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ matrix:
       env: NPY_RELAXED_STRIDES_CHECKING=0 PYTHON_OO=1
     - python: 2.7
       env: USE_WHEEL=1
+    - python: 2.7
+      env: PYTHONOPTIMIZE=2
 before_install:
   - uname -a
   - free -m
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 8f4a98951..36889cc42 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ basic linear algebra and random number generation.
 """
 from __future__ import division, print_function
 
-DOCLINES = __doc__.split("\n")
+DOCLINES = (__doc__ or '').split("\n")
 
 import os
 import sys