diff --git a/src/Composer/Package/Loader/ArrayLoader.php b/src/Composer/Package/Loader/ArrayLoader.php
index 13bb14037..4ea170146 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Package/Loader/ArrayLoader.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Package/Loader/ArrayLoader.php
@@ -72,9 +72,9 @@ class ArrayLoader implements LoaderInterface
         }
 
         if (isset($config['source'])) {
-            if (!isset($config['source']['type']) || !isset($config['source']['url'])) {
+            if (!isset($config['source']['type']) || !isset($config['source']['url']) || !isset($config['source']['reference'])) {
                 throw new \UnexpectedValueException(sprintf(
-                    "Package %s's source key should be specified as {\"type\": ..., \"url\": ...},\n%s given.",
+                    "Package %s's source key should be specified as {\"type\": ..., \"url\": ..., \"reference\": ...},\n%s given.",
                     $config['name'],
                     json_encode($config['source'])
                 ));