diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index f9228f237..a755ccc9e 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -5,10 +5,16 @@ cache:
     - .gradle/wrapper
     - .gradle/caches
 
+variables:
+  AVD_SDK: "17"
+  SKIN: "QVGA"
+
 gradle:
   script:
     - apt-get -y update
     - apt-get -y install curl
+    - echo y | android update sdk --no-ui --filter android-$AVD_SDK
+    - echo y | android update sdk --no-ui --all --filter sys-img-armeabi-v7a-android-$AVD_SDK
     - export GRADLE_USER_HOME=$PWD/.gradle
     # always report on lint errors to the build log
     - sed -i -e 's,textReport .*,textReport true,' app/build.gradle
@@ -20,7 +26,18 @@ gradle:
           done;
           exit 1;
       }
-    - echo no | android create avd --force -n fcl-test -t android-10 -b armeabi
+    # emulators will only start if they have tiny amounts of RAM
+    - sed -i -e 's,^hw.ramSize=.*,hw.ramSize=384,'
+             -e 's,^vm.heapSize=.*,vm.heapSize=48,'
+             -e 's,^hw.gpu.enabled.*,hw.gpu.enabled = false,'
+             $ANDROID_HOME/platforms/android-$AVD_SDK/skins/$SKIN/hardware.ini
+    - echo "hw.gpu.enabled = false" >>
+             $ANDROID_HOME/platforms/android-$AVD_SDK/skins/$SKIN/hardware.ini
+    - echo no | android --verbose create avd
+        --force
+        --name fcl-test
+        --skin $SKIN
+        --target android-$AVD_SDK
     - emulator -force-32bit -avd fcl-test -no-skin -no-audio -no-window &
     - ./tools/wait-for-emulator
     - adb shell input keyevent 82