diff --git a/doc/03-cli.md b/doc/03-cli.md
index 215340fc4..7fcafc2d6 100644
--- a/doc/03-cli.md
+++ b/doc/03-cli.md
@@ -165,6 +165,9 @@ php composer.phar require vendor/package:2.* vendor/package2:dev-master
 
 * **--prefer-source:** Install packages from `source` when available.
 * **--prefer-dist:** Install packages from `dist` when available.
+* **--ignore-platform-reqs:** ignore `php`, `hhvm`, `lib-*` and `ext-*`
+  requirements and force the installation even if the local machine does not
+  fulfill these.
 * **--dev:** Add packages to `require-dev`.
 * **--no-update:** Disables the automatic update of the dependencies.
 * **--no-progress:** Removes the progress display that can mess with some
@@ -186,6 +189,9 @@ After removing the requirements, the modified requirements will be
 uninstalled.
 
 ### Options
+* **--ignore-platform-reqs:** ignore `php`, `hhvm`, `lib-*` and `ext-*`
+  requirements and force the installation even if the local machine does not
+  fulfill these.
 * **--dev:** Remove packages from `require-dev`.
 * **--no-update:** Disables the automatic update of the dependencies.
 * **--no-progress:** Removes the progress display that can mess with some
diff --git a/src/Composer/Command/RemoveCommand.php b/src/Composer/Command/RemoveCommand.php
index cb83f56b7..c292a2812 100755
--- a/src/Composer/Command/RemoveCommand.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Command/RemoveCommand.php
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ class RemoveCommand extends Command
                 new InputOption('no-update', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Disables the automatic update of the dependencies.'),
                 new InputOption('update-no-dev', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Run the dependency update with the --no-dev option.'),
                 new InputOption('update-with-dependencies', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Allows inherited dependencies to be updated with explicit dependencies.'),
+                new InputOption('ignore-platform-reqs', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Ignore platform requirements (php & ext- packages).'),
             ))
             ->setHelp(<<<EOT
 The <info>remove</info> command removes a package from the current
@@ -105,6 +106,7 @@ EOT
             ->setUpdate(true)
             ->setUpdateWhitelist($packages)
             ->setWhitelistDependencies($input->getOption('update-with-dependencies'))
+            ->setIgnorePlatformRequirements($input->getOption('ignore-platform-reqs'))
         ;
 
         $status = $install->run();
diff --git a/src/Composer/Command/RequireCommand.php b/src/Composer/Command/RequireCommand.php
index 908159104..d0a63f1f3 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Command/RequireCommand.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Command/RequireCommand.php
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ class RequireCommand extends InitCommand
                 new InputOption('no-update', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Disables the automatic update of the dependencies.'),
                 new InputOption('update-no-dev', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Run the dependency update with the --no-dev option.'),
                 new InputOption('update-with-dependencies', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Allows inherited dependencies to be updated with explicit dependencies.'),
+                new InputOption('ignore-platform-reqs', null, InputOption::VALUE_NONE, 'Ignore platform requirements (php & ext- packages).'),
             ))
             ->setHelp(<<<EOT
 The require command adds required packages to your composer.json and installs them
@@ -131,6 +132,7 @@ EOT
             ->setUpdate(true)
             ->setUpdateWhitelist(array_keys($requirements))
             ->setWhitelistDependencies($input->getOption('update-with-dependencies'))
+            ->setIgnorePlatformRequirements($input->getOption('ignore-platform-reqs'))
         ;
 
         $status = $install->run();