diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 81b7556189..5c554cf79d 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -135,9 +135,13 @@ install:
 #  - cd ..
 
 script:
+  # output something every <10 minutes
+  - while sleep 9m; do echo "=====[ $SECONDS seconds still running ]====="; done &
   - cd src
-  - ../run_long.sh python -m cibuildwheel --output-dir ../wheelhouse
+  - python -m cibuildwheel --output-dir ../wheelhouse
   - cd ..
+  # terminate background sleep & print loop
+  - kill %1
 
 deploy:
   - provider: script
diff --git a/run_long.sh b/run_long.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 24abdbe0cc..0000000000
--- a/run_long.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-#
-# Inspired by
-# https://github.com/travis-ci/travis-ci/issues/4190#issuecomment-169987525
-#
-
-# start command and send to background
-"$@" &
-
-minutes=0  # passed [min]
-limit=50   # limit [min]
-
-while kill -0 $! >/dev/null 2>&1
-do
-  echo -n -e " \b"  # print something and backspace it
-
-  if [ $minutes >= $limit ]; then
-    break;
-  fi
-
-  minutes=$((minutes+1))
-
-  # next time in a minute
-  sleep 60
-done