diff --git a/src/Composer/Command/RemoveCommand.php b/src/Composer/Command/RemoveCommand.php
index d761930af..f4e65d1b4 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Command/RemoveCommand.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Command/RemoveCommand.php
@@ -253,13 +253,18 @@ EOT
             ->setApcuAutoloader($apcu, $apcuPrefix)
             ->setUpdate(true)
             ->setInstall(!$input->getOption('no-install'))
-            ->setUpdateAllowList($packages)
             ->setUpdateAllowTransitiveDependencies($updateAllowTransitiveDependencies)
             ->setIgnorePlatformRequirements($ignorePlatformReqs)
             ->setRunScripts(!$input->getOption('no-scripts'))
             ->setDryRun($dryRun)
         ;
 
+        // if no lock is present, we do not do a partial update as
+        // this is not supported by the Installer
+        if ($composer->getLocker()->isLocked()) {
+            $install->setUpdateAllowList($packages);
+        }
+
         $status = $install->run();
         if ($status !== 0) {
             $io->writeError("\n".'<error>Removal failed, reverting '.$file.' to its original content.</error>');