diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index daee7b3..0559ec3 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -164,7 +164,16 @@
         - JOB="Debian Packages"
         - SCRIPT="dpkg.sh"
 
-  ### ------------------------- phase: osx -------------------------
+    # ------------------------- phase: coverity ---------------------
+    # We build the coverity scan build once monthly using a travis cron job
+    - if: (env(COVERITY_SCAN_NOTIFICATION_EMAIL) IS present) AND (branch IN (master)) AND (type IN (cron))
+      script: build/docker/run.sh
+      env:
+        - JOB="Coverity Scan"
+        - SCRIPT="covscan.sh"
+     
+
+  ### ------------------------- phase: osx --------------------------
   # disabled due to the time delays it imposes on build jobs
   # - os: osx
   #   osx_image: xcode9
diff --git a/build/docker/scripts/covscan.sh b/build/docker/scripts/covscan.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..cb3f283
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build/docker/scripts/covscan.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#
+# Coverity Scan Travis build script
+# To run this interactively, set the environment variables yourself,
+# and run this inside a docker container.
+#
+# Command-Line Arguments
+#
+# --skipdownload   to skip re-downloading the Coverity Scan build package (large)
+#
+# Environment Variables (required)
+#
+# COVERITY_SCAN_NOTIFICATION_EMAIL  - email address to notify
+# COVERITY_SCAN_TOKEN               - the Coverity Scan token (should be secure)
+#
+# Environment Variables (defaulted)
+#
+# COVERITY_SCAN_BUILD_COMMAND       - defaults to "build/docker/scripts/autotools.sh"
+# COVERITY_SCAN_DESCRIPTION         - defaults to TRAVIS_BRANCH or "master" if empty
+# COVERITY_SCAN_PROJECT             - defaults to "thrift"
+
+set -ex
+
+COVERITY_SCAN_BUILD_COMMAND=${COVERITY_SCAN_BUILD_COMMAND:-build/docker/scripts/autotools.sh}
+COVERITY_SCAN_DESCRIPTION=${COVERITY_SCAN_DESCRIPTION:-${TRAVIS_BRANCH:-master}}
+COVERITY_SCAN_PROJECT=${COVERITY_SCAN_PROJECT:-thrift}
+
+# download the coverity scan package
+
+pushd /tmp
+if [[ "$1" != "--skipdownload" ]]; then
+  rm -rf coverity_tool.tgz cov-analysis*
+  wget https://scan.coverity.com/download/linux64 --post-data "token=$COVERITY_SCAN_TOKEN&project=$COVERITY_SCAN_PROJECT" -O coverity_tool.tgz
+  tar xzf coverity_tool.tgz
+fi
+COVBIN=$(echo $(pwd)/cov-analysis*/bin)
+export PATH=$COVBIN:$PATH
+popd
+
+# build the project with coverity scan
+
+rm -rf cov-int/
+cov-build --dir cov-int $COVERITY_SCAN_BUILD_COMMAND
+tar cJf cov-int.tar.xz cov-int/
+curl --form token="$COVERITY_SCAN_TOKEN" \
+     --form email="$COVERITY_SCAN_NOTIFICATION_EMAIL" \
+     --form file=@cov-int.tar.xz \
+     --form version="$(git describe --tags)" \
+     --form description="$COVERITY_SCAN_DESCRIPTION" \
+     https://scan.coverity.com/builds?project="$COVERITY_SCAN_PROJECT"
+