diff --git a/src/Composer/Downloader/DownloadManager.php b/src/Composer/Downloader/DownloadManager.php
index 51649cc3a..39a16611e 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Downloader/DownloadManager.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Downloader/DownloadManager.php
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ namespace Composer\Downloader;
 
 use Composer\Package\PackageInterface;
 use Composer\Downloader\DownloaderInterface;
+use Composer\IO\IOInterface;
 use Composer\Util\Filesystem;
 
 /**
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ use Composer\Util\Filesystem;
  */
 class DownloadManager
 {
+    private $io;
     private $preferDist = false;
     private $preferSource = false;
     private $filesystem;
@@ -31,11 +33,13 @@ class DownloadManager
     /**
      * Initializes download manager.
      *
+     * @param IOInterface     $io           The Input Output Interface
      * @param bool            $preferSource prefer downloading from source
      * @param Filesystem|null $filesystem   custom Filesystem object
      */
-    public function __construct($preferSource = false, Filesystem $filesystem = null)
+    public function __construct(IOInterface $io, $preferSource = false, Filesystem $filesystem = null)
     {
+        $this->io = $io;
         $this->preferSource = $preferSource;
         $this->filesystem = $filesystem ?: new Filesystem();
     }
@@ -168,19 +172,44 @@ class DownloadManager
         $sourceType   = $package->getSourceType();
         $distType     = $package->getDistType();
 
-        if ((!$package->isDev() || $this->preferDist || !$sourceType) && !($preferSource && $sourceType) && $distType) {
-            $package->setInstallationSource('dist');
-        } elseif ($sourceType) {
-            $package->setInstallationSource('source');
-        } else {
+        $wantDist = !$package->isDev() || $this->preferDist || !$sourceType;
+        $wantSource = $preferSource && $sourceType;
+
+        $types = array();
+        if ($sourceType) {
+            $types[] = 'source';
+        }
+        if ($distType) {
+            $types[] = 'dist';
+        }
+
+        if (empty($types)) {
             throw new \InvalidArgumentException('Package '.$package.' must have a source or dist specified');
         }
 
+        if ($wantDist && !$wantSource) {
+            $types = array_reverse($types);
+        }
+
         $this->filesystem->ensureDirectoryExists($targetDir);
 
-        $downloader = $this->getDownloaderForInstalledPackage($package);
-        if ($downloader) {
-            $downloader->download($package, $targetDir);
+        foreach ($types as $source) {
+            $package->setInstallationSource($source);
+            try {
+                $downloader = $this->getDownloaderForInstalledPackage($package);
+                if ($downloader) {
+                    $downloader->download($package, $targetDir);
+                }
+                break;
+            } catch (\RuntimeException $e) {
+                $this->io->write(
+                    '<warning>Caught an exception while trying to download '.
+                    $package->getPrettyString().
+                    ': '.
+                    $e->getMessage().'</warning>'
+                );
+                continue;
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/Composer/Factory.php b/src/Composer/Factory.php
index f829cb459..27f83dd87 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Factory.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Factory.php
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ class Factory
             $cache = new Cache($io, $config->get('cache-files-dir'), 'a-z0-9_./');
         }
 
-        $dm = new Downloader\DownloadManager();
+        $dm = new Downloader\DownloadManager($io);
         switch ($config->get('preferred-install')) {
             case 'dist':
                 $dm->setPreferDist(true);
diff --git a/tests/Composer/Test/ComposerTest.php b/tests/Composer/Test/ComposerTest.php
index f667e88e5..df00c36f7 100644
--- a/tests/Composer/Test/ComposerTest.php
+++ b/tests/Composer/Test/ComposerTest.php
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ class ComposerTest extends TestCase
     public function testSetGetDownloadManager()
     {
         $composer = new Composer();
-        $manager = $this->getMock('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager');
+        $io = $this->getMock('Composer\IO\IOInterface');
+        $manager = $this->getMock('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager', array(), array($io));
         $composer->setDownloadManager($manager);
 
         $this->assertSame($manager, $composer->getDownloadManager());
diff --git a/tests/Composer/Test/Downloader/DownloadManagerTest.php b/tests/Composer/Test/Downloader/DownloadManagerTest.php
index 48242a818..1728c583e 100644
--- a/tests/Composer/Test/Downloader/DownloadManagerTest.php
+++ b/tests/Composer/Test/Downloader/DownloadManagerTest.php
@@ -17,16 +17,18 @@ use Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager;
 class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
 {
     protected $filesystem;
+    protected $io;
 
     public function setUp()
     {
         $this->filesystem = $this->getMock('Composer\Util\Filesystem');
+        $this->io = $this->getMock('Composer\IO\IOInterface');
     }
 
     public function testSetGetDownloader()
     {
         $downloader = $this->createDownloaderMock();
-        $manager    = new DownloadManager(false, $this->filesystem);
+        $manager    = new DownloadManager($this->io, false, $this->filesystem);
 
         $manager->setDownloader('test', $downloader);
         $this->assertSame($downloader, $manager->getDownloader('test'));
@@ -43,7 +45,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->method('getInstallationSource')
             ->will($this->returnValue(null));
 
-        $manager = new DownloadManager(false, $this->filesystem);
+        $manager = new DownloadManager($this->io, false, $this->filesystem);
 
         $this->setExpectedException('InvalidArgumentException');
 
@@ -69,7 +71,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->will($this->returnValue('dist'));
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-            ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
             ->setMethods(array('getDownloader'))
             ->getMock();
 
@@ -101,7 +103,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->will($this->returnValue('source'));
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-            ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
             ->setMethods(array('getDownloader'))
             ->getMock();
 
@@ -135,7 +137,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->will($this->returnValue('source'));
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-            ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
             ->setMethods(array('getDownloader'))
             ->getMock();
 
@@ -167,7 +169,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->will($this->returnValue('dist'));
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-            ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
             ->setMethods(array('getDownloader'))
             ->getMock();
 
@@ -190,7 +192,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
           ->method('getType')
           ->will($this->returnValue('metapackage'));
 
-        $manager = new DownloadManager(false, $this->filesystem);
+        $manager = new DownloadManager($this->io, false, $this->filesystem);
 
         $this->assertNull($manager->getDownloaderForInstalledPackage($package));
     }
@@ -219,7 +221,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->with($package, 'target_dir');
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-            ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
             ->setMethods(array('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage'))
             ->getMock();
         $manager
@@ -231,6 +233,62 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
         $manager->download($package, 'target_dir');
     }
 
+    public function testFullPackageDownloadFailover()
+    {
+        $package = $this->createPackageMock();
+        $package
+            ->expects($this->once())
+            ->method('getSourceType')
+            ->will($this->returnValue('git'));
+        $package
+            ->expects($this->once())
+            ->method('getDistType')
+            ->will($this->returnValue('pear'));
+        $package
+            ->expects($this->any())
+            ->method('getPrettyString')
+            ->will($this->returnValue('prettyPackage'));
+
+        $package
+            ->expects($this->at(3))
+            ->method('setInstallationSource')
+            ->with('dist');
+        $package
+            ->expects($this->at(5))
+            ->method('setInstallationSource')
+            ->with('source');
+
+        $downloaderFail = $this->createDownloaderMock();
+        $downloaderFail
+            ->expects($this->once())
+            ->method('download')
+            ->with($package, 'target_dir')
+            ->will($this->throwException(new \RuntimeException("Foo")));
+
+        $downloaderSuccess = $this->createDownloaderMock();
+        $downloaderSuccess
+            ->expects($this->once())
+            ->method('download')
+            ->with($package, 'target_dir');
+
+        $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setMethods(array('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage'))
+            ->getMock();
+        $manager
+            ->expects($this->at(0))
+            ->method('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage')
+            ->with($package)
+            ->will($this->returnValue($downloaderFail));
+        $manager
+            ->expects($this->at(1))
+            ->method('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage')
+            ->with($package)
+            ->will($this->returnValue($downloaderSuccess));
+
+        $manager->download($package, 'target_dir');
+    }
+
     public function testBadPackageDownload()
     {
         $package = $this->createPackageMock();
@@ -243,7 +301,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->method('getDistType')
             ->will($this->returnValue(null));
 
-        $manager = new DownloadManager(false, $this->filesystem);
+        $manager = new DownloadManager($this->io, false, $this->filesystem);
 
         $this->setExpectedException('InvalidArgumentException');
         $manager->download($package, 'target_dir');
@@ -273,7 +331,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->with($package, 'target_dir');
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-            ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
             ->setMethods(array('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage'))
             ->getMock();
         $manager
@@ -309,7 +367,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->with($package, 'target_dir');
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-            ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
             ->setMethods(array('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage'))
             ->getMock();
         $manager
@@ -339,7 +397,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
           ->with('source');
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-          ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+          ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
           ->setMethods(array('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage'))
           ->getMock();
         $manager
@@ -375,7 +433,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->with($package, 'target_dir');
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-            ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
             ->setMethods(array('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage'))
             ->getMock();
         $manager
@@ -412,7 +470,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->with($package, 'target_dir');
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-            ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
             ->setMethods(array('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage'))
             ->getMock();
         $manager
@@ -449,7 +507,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->with($package, 'target_dir');
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-            ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
             ->setMethods(array('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage'))
             ->getMock();
         $manager
@@ -474,7 +532,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->method('getDistType')
             ->will($this->returnValue(null));
 
-        $manager = new DownloadManager(false, $this->filesystem);
+        $manager = new DownloadManager($this->io, false, $this->filesystem);
         $manager->setPreferSource(true);
 
         $this->setExpectedException('InvalidArgumentException');
@@ -510,7 +568,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->with($initial, $target, 'vendor/bundles/FOS/UserBundle');
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-            ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
             ->setMethods(array('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage'))
             ->getMock();
         $manager
@@ -547,7 +605,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->with($initial, 'vendor/bundles/FOS/UserBundle');
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-            ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
             ->setMethods(array('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage', 'download'))
             ->getMock();
         $manager
@@ -588,7 +646,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->with($initial, $target, 'vendor/pkg');
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-            ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
             ->setMethods(array('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage', 'download'))
             ->getMock();
         $manager
@@ -625,7 +683,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->with($initial, 'vendor/pkg');
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-            ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
             ->setMethods(array('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage', 'download'))
             ->getMock();
         $manager
@@ -647,7 +705,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
         $target = $this->createPackageMock();
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-          ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+          ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
           ->setMethods(array('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage'))
           ->getMock();
         $manager
@@ -670,7 +728,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
             ->with($package, 'vendor/bundles/FOS/UserBundle');
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-            ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+            ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
             ->setMethods(array('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage'))
             ->getMock();
         $manager
@@ -687,7 +745,7 @@ class DownloadManagerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
         $package = $this->createPackageMock();
 
         $manager = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager')
-          ->setConstructorArgs(array(false, $this->filesystem))
+          ->setConstructorArgs(array($this->io, false, $this->filesystem))
           ->setMethods(array('getDownloaderForInstalledPackage'))
           ->getMock();
         $manager
diff --git a/tests/Composer/Test/InstallerTest.php b/tests/Composer/Test/InstallerTest.php
index 4e992c577..cc17973bc 100644
--- a/tests/Composer/Test/InstallerTest.php
+++ b/tests/Composer/Test/InstallerTest.php
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class InstallerTest extends TestCase
     {
         $io = $this->getMock('Composer\IO\IOInterface');
 
-        $downloadManager = $this->getMock('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager');
+        $downloadManager = $this->getMock('Composer\Downloader\DownloadManager', array(), array($io));
         $config = $this->getMock('Composer\Config');
 
         $repositoryManager = new RepositoryManager($io, $config);