diff --git a/src/Composer/Repository/ComposerRepository.php b/src/Composer/Repository/ComposerRepository.php
index a53b37c33..e4cfbba83 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Repository/ComposerRepository.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Repository/ComposerRepository.php
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ use Composer\Downloader\TransportException;
 use Composer\Semver\Constraint\ConstraintInterface;
 use Composer\Semver\Constraint\Constraint;
 use Composer\Semver\Constraint\EmptyConstraint;
+use Composer\Util\Http\Response;
 
 /**
  * @author Jordi Boggiano <j.boggiano@seld.be>
@@ -1140,6 +1141,11 @@ class ComposerRepository extends ArrayRepository implements ConfigurableReposito
             }
             $degradedMode = true;
 
+            // special error code returned when network is being artificially disabled
+            if ($e instanceof TransportException && $e->getStatusCode() === 499) {
+                return $accept(new Response(array('url' => $url), 404, array(), ''));
+            }
+
             throw $e;
         };