diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 971e0285b6..0c29ac594a 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -5,23 +5,27 @@ matrix:
   include:
     - os: linux
       dist: trusty
-      go: 1.5.4
-      env:
-        - GO15VENDOREXPERIMENT=1
+      go: 1.7.5
+
+    # These are the latest Go versions, only run go vet and misspell on these
     - os: linux
       dist: trusty
-      go: 1.6.2
-    - os: linux
-      dist: trusty
-      go: 1.7.4
+      go: 1.8
+      script:
+        - go run build/ci.go install
+        - go run build/ci.go test -coverage -vet -misspell
+
     - os: osx
-      go: 1.7.4
+      go: 1.8
+      script:
+        - go run build/ci.go install
+        - go run build/ci.go test -coverage -vet -misspell
 
     # This builder does the Ubuntu PPA and Linux Azure uploads
     - os: linux
       dist: trusty
       sudo: required
-      go: 1.7.4
+      go: 1.8
       env:
         - ubuntu-ppa
         - azure-linux
@@ -90,7 +94,7 @@ matrix:
 
     # This builder does the OSX Azure, iOS CocoaPods and iOS Azure uploads
     - os: osx
-      go: 1.7.4
+      go: 1.8
       env:
         - azure-osx
         - azure-ios
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e7e88468f1..347ac0c631 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ For prerequisites and detailed build instructions please read the [Ethereum's In
 
 *Note*: Keep in mind that Ubiq aims to be 100% compatible with Ethereum, so mostly all the documentation you can find on Ethereum wiki, will apply for sure to Ubiq.
 
-Building gubiq requires both a Go and a C compiler. You can install them using your favourite package manager. Once the dependencies are installed, run
+Building gubiq requires both a Go and a C compiler (version 1.7 or later). You can install them using your favourite package manager. Once the dependencies are installed, run
 
     make gubiq
 
diff --git a/build/ci.go b/build/ci.go
index 578c7b27ee..b9872b51bd 100644
--- a/build/ci.go
+++ b/build/ci.go
@@ -157,11 +157,17 @@ func doInstall(cmdline []string) {
 
 	// Check Go version. People regularly open issues about compilation
 	// failure with outdated Go. This should save them the trouble.
-	if runtime.Version() < "go1.4" && !strings.HasPrefix(runtime.Version(), "devel") {
-		log.Println("You have Go version", runtime.Version())
-		log.Println("go-ubiq requires at least Go version 1.4 and cannot")
-		log.Println("be compiled with an earlier version. Please upgrade your Go installation.")
-		os.Exit(1)
+	if !strings.Contains(runtime.Version(), "devel") {
+		// Figure out the minor version number since we can't textually compare (1.10 < 1.7)
+		var minor int
+		fmt.Sscanf(strings.TrimPrefix(runtime.Version(), "go1."), "%d", &minor)
+
+		if minor < 7 {
+			log.Println("You have Go version", runtime.Version())
+			log.Println("go-ethereum requires at least Go version 1.7 and cannot")
+			log.Println("be compiled with an earlier version. Please upgrade your Go installation.")
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
 	}
 	// Compile packages given as arguments, or everything if there are no arguments.
 	packages := []string{"./..."}
@@ -214,16 +220,9 @@ func buildFlags(env build.Environment) (flags []string) {
 		flags = append(flags, "-tags", "opencl")
 	}
 
-	// Since Go 1.5, the separator char for link time assignments
-	// is '=' and using ' ' prints a warning. However, Go < 1.5 does
-	// not support using '='.
-	sep := " "
-	if runtime.Version() > "go1.5" || strings.Contains(runtime.Version(), "devel") {
-		sep = "="
-	}
 	// Set gitCommit constant via link-time assignment.
 	if env.Commit != "" {
-		flags = append(flags, "-ldflags", "-X main.gitCommit"+sep+env.Commit)
+		flags = append(flags, "-ldflags", "-X main.gitCommit="+env.Commit)
 	}
 	return flags
 }
@@ -240,14 +239,14 @@ func goToolArch(arch string, subcmd string, args ...string) *exec.Cmd {
 	if subcmd == "build" || subcmd == "install" || subcmd == "test" {
 		// Go CGO has a Windows linker error prior to 1.8 (https://github.com/golang/go/issues/8756).
 		// Work around issue by allowing multiple definitions for <1.8 builds.
-		if runtime.GOOS == "windows" && runtime.Version() < "go1.8" {
+		var minor int
+		fmt.Sscanf(strings.TrimPrefix(runtime.Version(), "go1."), "%d", &minor)
+
+		if runtime.GOOS == "windows" && minor < 8 {
 			cmd.Args = append(cmd.Args, []string{"-ldflags", "-extldflags -Wl,--allow-multiple-definition"}...)
 		}
 	}
-	cmd.Env = []string{
-		"GO15VENDOREXPERIMENT=1",
-		"GOPATH=" + build.GOPATH(),
-	}
+	cmd.Env = []string{"GOPATH=" + build.GOPATH()}
 	if arch == "" || arch == runtime.GOARCH {
 		cmd.Env = append(cmd.Env, "GOBIN="+GOBIN)
 	} else {
diff --git a/build/env.sh b/build/env.sh
index 089ca1c2a2..31f171d39d 100755
--- a/build/env.sh
+++ b/build/env.sh
@@ -20,8 +20,7 @@ fi
 
 # Set up the environment to use the workspace.
 GOPATH="$workspace"
-GO15VENDOREXPERIMENT=1
-export GOPATH GO15VENDOREXPERIMENT
+export GOPATH
 
 # Run the command inside the workspace.
 cd "$ethdir/go-ubiq"