diff --git a/packages/actions/lib/common.js b/packages/actions/lib/common.js
index a7134f1..dada2f7 100644
--- a/packages/actions/lib/common.js
+++ b/packages/actions/lib/common.js
@@ -36,10 +36,13 @@ function main(params) {
 
     const manifestFilePath = `${repoDir}/${manifestPath}/${manifestFileName}`;
     if (!fs.existsSync(manifestFilePath)) {
-      if (usingTemp) {
-        deleteFolder(repoDir);
+      const altManifestFilePath = `${repoDir}/${manifestPath}/manifest.yml`;
+      if (!fs.existsSync(altManifestFilePath)) {
+        if (usingTemp) {
+          deleteFolder(repoDir);
+        }
+        reject(new Error('Error loading manifest file. Does a manifest file exist?'));
       }
-      reject(new Error('Error loading manifest file. Does a manifest file exist?'));
     } else {
       exec(command, execOptions, (err, stdout, stderr) => {
         if (usingTemp) {
diff --git a/tests/src/test/scala/packages/deployWebTests.scala b/tests/src/test/scala/packages/deployWebTests.scala
index 054aa06..a11b811 100644
--- a/tests/src/test/scala/packages/deployWebTests.scala
+++ b/tests/src/test/scala/packages/deployWebTests.scala
@@ -46,9 +46,11 @@ class DeployWebTests extends TestHelpers
     val incorrectGithubRepo = "https://github.com/apache/openwhisk-package-deploy-incorrect"
     val helloWorldPath = "tests/src/test/scala/testFixtures/helloWorld"
     val helloWorldWithNoManifest = "tests/src/test/scala/testFixtures/helloWorldNoManifest"
+    val helloWorldAltManifest = "tests/src/test/scala/testFixtures/helloWorldAltManifest"
     val helloWorldPackageParam = "tests/src/test/scala/testFixtures/helloWorldPackageParam"
     val incorrectManifestPath = "does/not/exist"
     val helloWorldAction = "openwhisk-helloworld/helloworld"
+    val helloWorldAltAction = "openwhisk-helloworld/helloworldAlt"
     val helloWorldActionPackage = "myPackage/helloworld"
 
     // statuses from deployWeb
@@ -87,6 +89,19 @@ class DeployWebTests extends TestHelpers
       wsk.action.delete(helloWorldAction)
     }
 
+    // test to create the hello world template with alternate manifest from github
+    it should "create the hello world action with alternate manifest extension from github url" in {
+      makePostCallWithExpectedResult(JsObject(
+        "gitUrl" -> JsString(deployTestRepo),
+        "manifestPath" -> JsString(helloWorldAltManifest),
+        "wskApiHost" -> JsString(wskprops.apihost),
+        "wskAuth" -> JsString(wskprops.authKey)
+      ), successStatus, 200);
+
+      // clean up after test
+      wsk.action.delete(helloWorldAltAction)
+    }
+
     // test to create the hello world template from github with myPackage as package name
     it should s"create the $helloWorldActionPackage action from github url" in {
       makePostCallWithExpectedResult(JsObject(
diff --git a/tests/src/test/scala/testFixtures/helloWorldAltManifest/actions/helloworld.js b/tests/src/test/scala/testFixtures/helloWorldAltManifest/actions/helloworld.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a34e766
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/src/test/scala/testFixtures/helloWorldAltManifest/actions/helloworld.js
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+/**
+  *
+  * main() will be invoked when you Run This Action.
+  *
+  * @param Cloud Functions actions accept a single parameter,
+  *        which must be a JSON object.
+  *
+  * In this case, the params variable will look like:
+  *     { "message": "xxxx" }
+  *
+  * @return which must be a JSON object.
+  *         It will be the output of this action.
+  *
+  */
+function main(params) {
+  return { "message": "you sent me " + params.message };
+}
diff --git a/tests/src/test/scala/testFixtures/helloWorldAltManifest/manifest.yml b/tests/src/test/scala/testFixtures/helloWorldAltManifest/manifest.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0831261
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/src/test/scala/testFixtures/helloWorldAltManifest/manifest.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# Wskdeploy manifest for hello-world
+
+# Deployment using this manifest file creates the following OpenWhisk components:
+#   Package:  openwhisk-helloworld
+#   Action:   openwhisk-helloworld/helloworld.js
+
+project:
+  namespace: _
+  packages:
+    openwhisk-helloworld:
+      version: 1.0
+      license: Apache-2.0
+      actions:
+        helloworldAlt:
+          function: actions/helloworld.js
diff --git a/tools/travis/build.sh b/tools/travis/build.sh
index 7626625..907df9d 100755
--- a/tools/travis/build.sh
+++ b/tools/travis/build.sh
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ $ANSIBLE_CMD initdb.yml
 cd $WHISKDIR
 
 TERM=dumb ./gradlew \
+:tools:admin:install \
 :common:scala:install \
 :core:controller:install \
 :core:invoker:install \