diff --git a/src/Composer/Command/ValidateCommand.php b/src/Composer/Command/ValidateCommand.php
index 6ab95ed1c..cb178d263 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Command/ValidateCommand.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Command/ValidateCommand.php
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ class ValidateCommand extends BaseCommand
                 new InputOption('no-check-all', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Do not validate requires for overly strict/loose constraints'),
                 new InputOption('no-check-lock', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Do not check if lock file is up to date'),
                 new InputOption('no-check-publish', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Do not check for publish errors'),
+                new InputOption('no-check-version', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Do not check if version field is present'),
                 new InputOption('with-dependencies', 'A', InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Also validate the composer.json of all installed dependencies'),
                 new InputOption('strict', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Return a non-zero exit code for warnings as well as errors'),
                 new InputArgument('file', InputArgument::OPTIONAL, 'path to composer.json file'),
@@ -86,8 +87,9 @@ EOT
         $checkAll = $input->getOption('no-check-all') ? 0 : ValidatingArrayLoader::CHECK_ALL;
         $checkPublish = !$input->getOption('no-check-publish');
         $checkLock = !$input->getOption('no-check-lock');
+        $checkVersion = !$input->getOption('no-check-version');
         $isStrict = $input->getOption('strict');
-        list($errors, $publishErrors, $warnings) = $validator->validate($file, $checkAll);
+        list($errors, $publishErrors, $warnings) = $validator->validate($file, $checkAll, $checkVersion);
 
         $lockErrors = array();
         $composer = Factory::create($io, $file, $input->hasParameterOption('--no-plugins'));
@@ -107,7 +109,7 @@ EOT
                 $path = $composer->getInstallationManager()->getInstallPath($package);
                 $file = $path . '/composer.json';
                 if (is_dir($path) && file_exists($file)) {
-                    list($errors, $publishErrors, $warnings) = $validator->validate($file, $checkAll);
+                    list($errors, $publishErrors, $warnings) = $validator->validate($file, $checkAll, $checkVersion);
 
                     $this->outputResult($io, $package->getPrettyName(), $errors, $warnings, $checkPublish, $publishErrors);
 
diff --git a/src/Composer/Util/ConfigValidator.php b/src/Composer/Util/ConfigValidator.php
index 98a6016f2..4d6998dec 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Util/ConfigValidator.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Util/ConfigValidator.php
@@ -40,10 +40,11 @@ class ConfigValidator
      *
      * @param string $file                       The path to the file
      * @param int    $arrayLoaderValidationFlags Flags for ArrayLoader validation
+     * @param bool   $checkVersion               Whether or not check if version field is present
      *
      * @return array a triple containing the errors, publishable errors, and warnings
      */
-    public function validate($file, $arrayLoaderValidationFlags = ValidatingArrayLoader::CHECK_ALL)
+    public function validate($file, $arrayLoaderValidationFlags = ValidatingArrayLoader::CHECK_ALL, $checkVersion = true)
     {
         $errors = array();
         $publishErrors = array();
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ class ConfigValidator
             }
         }
 
-        if (isset($manifest['version'])) {
+        if ($checkVersion && isset($manifest['version'])) {
             $warnings[] = 'The version field is present, it is recommended to leave it out if the package is published on Packagist.';
         }