diff --git a/src/Composer/Command/ShowCommand.php b/src/Composer/Command/ShowCommand.php
index 4152dc9d6..441fe6818 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Command/ShowCommand.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Command/ShowCommand.php
@@ -129,6 +129,12 @@ EOT
             return 1;
         }
 
+        if ($input->getOption('tree') && $input->getOption('path')) {
+            $io->writeError('The --tree (-t) option is not usable in combination with --path (-P)');
+
+            return 1;
+        }
+
         $format = $input->getOption('format');
         if (!in_array($format, array('text', 'json'))) {
             $io->writeError(sprintf('Unsupported format "%s". See help for supported formats.', $format));