diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index e55c989bb..7e0e4ae46 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ matrix:
                 - libxinerama-dev
                 - libxcursor-dev
                 - libunistring-dev
+                - libpng-dev
 
         - os: linux
           dist: trusty
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ matrix:
                 - libxinerama-dev
                 - libxcursor-dev
                 - libunistring-dev
+                - libpng-dev
 
         - os: linux
           dist: trusty
@@ -57,6 +59,7 @@ matrix:
                 - libxinerama-dev
                 - libxcursor-dev
                 - libunistring-dev
+                - libpng-dev
                 - clang
         - os: osx
           language: generic
@@ -82,6 +85,7 @@ install: |
             brew install python3;
             brew install glfw;
             brew install libunistring;
+            brew install libpng;
         else
             mkdir -p $SW;
             curl https://download.calibre-ebook.com/travis/kitty/osx.tar.xz | tar xJ -C $SW;
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index b8adafff7..a209608bb 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -175,6 +175,8 @@ def init_env(debug=False, sanitize=False, native_optimizations=True, profile=Fal
     ldpaths = pylib + glew_libs + font_libs + glfw_ldflags + libpng + ['-lunistring']
     if not isosx:
         ldpaths += ['-lrt']
+    if '-lz' not in ldpaths:
+        ldpaths.append('-lz')
 
     try:
         os.mkdir(build_dir)