diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index f6f2597..53153a2 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -3,9 +3,5 @@ sudo: required
 services:
   - docker
 
-before_script: |
-  cd example
-  make test-setup
-
 script: |
   make test
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 10d4b3e..3ff5f10 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,14 @@
-.PHONY: build
-
+.PHONY: build test
 
 build:
 	docker build -t "tweekmonster/vim-testbed" .
+
+# test: build the base image and then the example image on top, running tests
+# therein.
+DOCKER_BASE_IMAGE:=vim-testbed-base
+DOCKER_EXAMPLE_IMAGE:=vim-testbed-example
+test:
+	docker build -t "$(DOCKER_BASE_IMAGE)" . \
+	  && cd example \
+	  && docker build -t "$(DOCKER_EXAMPLE_IMAGE)" . \
+	  && make test IMAGE=$(DOCKER_EXAMPLE_IMAGE)
diff --git a/example/Dockerfile b/example/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b4b2523
--- /dev/null
+++ b/example/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+FROM vim-testbed-base
+
+RUN install_vim -name vim-precise -tag v7.3.429 -build \
+                -name vim-trusty -tag v7.4.052 -build \
+                -name vim-vivid -tag v7.4.488 -build \
+                -name vim-wily -tag v7.4.712 -build \
+                -name vim-xenial -tag v7.4.963 -build \
diff --git a/example/Makefile b/example/Makefile
index 9d8a1d6..964d61b 100644
--- a/example/Makefile
+++ b/example/Makefile
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
+IMAGE ?= tweekmonster/ubuntu-vims
 PLUGINS = test/plugins
-IMAGE = tweekmonster/ubuntu-vims
 DOCKER = docker run -it --rm -v $(PWD):/testplugin -v $(PWD)/test:/home "$(IMAGE)"
 
-test-setup:
+$(PLUGINS)/vader.vim:
 	mkdir -p $(PLUGINS)
-	docker pull tweekmonster/ubuntu-vims
 	cd $(PLUGINS) && git clone https://github.com/junegunn/vader.vim.git
 
-test:
-	 $(DOCKER) vim-precise '+Vader! test/*'
-	 $(DOCKER) vim-trusty '+Vader! test/*'
-	 $(DOCKER) vim-vivid '+Vader! test/*'
-	 $(DOCKER) vim-wily '+Vader! test/*'
-	 $(DOCKER) vim-xenial '+Vader! test/*'
+test-setup: $(PLUGINS)/vader.vim
+	docker images -q $(IMAGE) || docker pull $(IMAGE)
+
+test: test-setup
+	for vim in $$(docker run --rm $(IMAGE) ls /vim-build/bin | grep -E '^n?vim'); do \
+	  $(DOCKER) $$vim '+Vader! test/*'; \
+	done
 
 .PHONY: test-setup test
diff --git a/scripts/install_vim.sh b/scripts/install_vim.sh
index b5c07cc..4637867 100644
--- a/scripts/install_vim.sh
+++ b/scripts/install_vim.sh
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
       # expects a -build flag to signal the start of a build.  This way,
       # installing all Vim versions becomes one layer.
       # Side note: tried docker-squash and it didn't seem to do anything.
+      echo "=== building: NAME=$NAME, TAG=$TAG, PYTHON=$PYTHON, RUBY=$RUBY, LUA=$LUA ==="
       build
       NAME=""
       TAG=""
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
   shift
 done
 
+echo "Pruning packages and dirs.."
 apk del vim-build
 rm -rf /vim/*
 rm -rf /var/cache/apk/* /tmp/* /var/tmp/*