diff --git a/.rultor.yml b/.rultor.yml
index dc5f647..e8f99d1 100644
--- a/.rultor.yml
+++ b/.rultor.yml
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ merge:
     sudo sh -c 'echo "host all all localhost trust" > /etc/postgresql/9.3/main/pg_hba.conf'
     sudo sh -c 'echo "local all all trust" >> /etc/postgresql/9.3/main/pg_hba.conf'
     sudo service postgresql start
-    sleep 30
+    sleep 30s
     psql -c 'create database nativejson;' -U postgres
     mvn install -Pci -B --settings ../settings.xml
 
@@ -40,13 +40,7 @@ env:
 
 release:
   script: |-
-    sudo apt-get update -y
-    sudo apt-get install -y postgresql-9.3
-    sudo sh -c 'echo "host all all localhost trust" > /etc/postgresql/9.3/main/pg_hba.conf'
-    sudo sh -c 'echo "local all all trust" >> /etc/postgresql/9.3/main/pg_hba.conf'
-    sudo service postgresql start
-    sleep 30
-    psql -c 'create database nativejson;' -U postgres
+    ./initialize_postgres.sh
     mvn versions:set "-DnewVersion=${tag}"
     git commit -am "${tag}"
     mvn deploy -Pci -B -Prelease --settings ../settings.xml -Dgpg.homedir=..
diff --git a/initialize_postgres.sh b/initialize_postgres.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..f2f649b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/initialize_postgres.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# install postgresql, wait for it to start and then create test database
+
+set -x
+
+sudo sh -c 'echo "host all all localhost trust" > /etc/postgresql/9.3/main/pg_hba.conf'
+sudo sh -c 'echo "local all all trust" >> /etc/postgresql/9.3/main/pg_hba.conf'
+sudo rm /usr/bin/psql
+sudo ln -s /usr/lib/postgresql/9.3/bin/psql /usr/bin/psql
+sudo service postgresql start
+sleep 30s
+sudo service postgresql status
+psql -c 'create database nativejson;' -U postgres