diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 2e40196e1828..c29ea330f5ec 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -52,7 +52,9 @@ matrix:
         - mongodb
       script:
         - npm run postinstall -- --scope "@loopback/test-repository-mongodb" --include-dependencies
-        - npm run build -- --scope "@loopback/test-repository-mongodb" --include-dependencies
+        # Now `npm run build` at root level does not delegate to `lerna`
+        # `tsc -b` also deals with dependencies by itself
+        - npx lerna run build --scope "@loopback/test-repository-mongodb"
         - cd acceptance/repository-mongodb && npm run mocha
     - node_js: "12"
       os: linux
@@ -69,7 +71,7 @@ matrix:
         - mysql -e "GRANT SUPER ON *.* TO 'test'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'test';FLUSH PRIVILEGES;"
       script:
         - npm run postinstall -- --scope "@loopback/test-repository-mysql" --include-dependencies
-        - npm run build -- --scope "@loopback/test-repository-mysql" --include-dependencies
+        - npx lerna run build --scope "@loopback/test-repository-mysql"
         - cd acceptance/repository-mysql && npm run mocha
     - node_js: "12"
       os: linux
@@ -80,7 +82,7 @@ matrix:
         - postgresql
       script:
         - npm run postinstall -- --scope "@loopback/test-repository-postgresql" --include-dependencies
-        - npm run build -- --scope "@loopback/test-repository-postgresql" --include-dependencies
+        - npx lerna run build --scope "@loopback/test-repository-postgresql"
         - psql -U postgres -a -f acceptance/repository-postgresql/test/schema.sql
         - cd acceptance/repository-postgresql && npm run mocha
     - node_js: "12"
@@ -90,7 +92,7 @@ matrix:
       script:
         # set up docker image and create admin for cloudant.
         - npm run postinstall -- --scope "@loopback/test-repository-cloudant" --include-dependencies
-        - npm run build -- --scope "@loopback/test-repository-cloudant" --include-dependencies
+        - npx lerna run build --scope "@loopback/test-repository-cloudant"
         - cd acceptance/repository-cloudant && sh setup.sh
         - npm test
     - node_js: "12"
@@ -101,7 +103,7 @@ matrix:
         - docker
       script:
         - npm run postinstall -- --scope "@loopback/test-extension-logging-fluentd" --include-dependencies
-        - npm run build -- --scope "@loopback/test-extension-logging-fluentd" --include-dependencies
+        - npx lerna run build --scope "@loopback/test-extension-logging-fluentd"
         - cd acceptance/extension-logging-fluentd && npm run mocha
 
 branches: