diff --git a/azure-pipelines.yml b/azure-pipelines.yml
index e88f397948..aac5b767f2 100644
--- a/azure-pipelines.yml
+++ b/azure-pipelines.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 
 jobs:
   - job: syntax_test
+    pool:
+      vmImage: ubuntu-16.04
     steps:
       - script: make -C test -j4 syntax_tests_run
         displayName: 'syntax test'