diff --git a/src/Composer/Command/Command.php b/src/Composer/Command/Command.php
index 862b54e58..b99686219 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Command/Command.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Command/Command.php
@@ -68,6 +68,15 @@ abstract class Command extends BaseCommand
         $this->composer = $composer;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Removes the cached composer instance
+     */
+    public function resetComposer()
+    {
+        $this->composer = null;
+        $this->getApplication()->resetComposer();
+    }
+
     /**
      * @return IOInterface
      */
diff --git a/src/Composer/Command/RequireCommand.php b/src/Composer/Command/RequireCommand.php
index f20c0420c..55e3752a9 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Command/RequireCommand.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Command/RequireCommand.php
@@ -125,6 +125,8 @@ EOT
         $updateDevMode = !$input->getOption('update-no-dev');
 
         // Update packages
+        $this->resetComposer();
+        $composer = $this->getComposer();
         $composer->getDownloadManager()->setOutputProgress(!$input->getOption('no-progress'));
         $io = $this->getIO();
 
diff --git a/src/Composer/Console/Application.php b/src/Composer/Console/Application.php
index e0037f655..6ce2d6682 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Console/Application.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Console/Application.php
@@ -219,6 +219,14 @@ class Application extends BaseApplication
         return $this->composer;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Removes the cached composer instance
+     */
+    public function resetComposer()
+    {
+        $this->composer = null;
+    }
+
     /**
      * @return IOInterface
      */