diff --git a/doc/05-repositories.md b/doc/05-repositories.md
index 95881b078..4c1c7e000 100644
--- a/doc/05-repositories.md
+++ b/doc/05-repositories.md
@@ -658,6 +658,26 @@ the branch or tag that is currently checked out. Otherwise, the version should
 be explicitly defined in the package's `composer.json` file. If the version
 cannot be resolved by these means, it is assumed to be `dev-master`.
 
+When the version cannot be inferred from the local VCS repository, or when you
+want to override the version, you can use the `versions` option when declaring
+the repository:
+
+```json
+{
+    "repositories": [
+        {
+            "type": "path",
+            "url": "../../packages/my-package",
+            "options": {
+                "versions": {
+                    "my/package": "4.2-dev"
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    ]
+}
+```
+
 The local package will be symlinked if possible, in which case the output in
 the console will read `Symlinking from ../../packages/my-package`. If symlinking
 is _not_ possible the package will be copied. In that case, the console will
diff --git a/src/Composer/Repository/PathRepository.php b/src/Composer/Repository/PathRepository.php
index a0a6835b8..b6601f883 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Repository/PathRepository.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Repository/PathRepository.php
@@ -164,6 +164,12 @@ class PathRepository extends ArrayRepository implements ConfigurableRepositoryIn
                 'reference' => sha1($json . serialize($this->options)),
             );
             $package['transport-options'] = $this->options;
+            unset($package['transport-options']['versions']);
+
+            // use the version provided as option if available
+            if (isset($package['name'], $this->options['versions'][$package['name']])) {
+                $package['version'] = $this->options['versions'][$package['name']];
+            }
 
             // carry over the root package version if this path repo is in the same git repository as root package
             if (!isset($package['version']) && ($rootVersion = getenv('COMPOSER_ROOT_VERSION'))) {
diff --git a/tests/Composer/Test/Repository/PathRepositoryTest.php b/tests/Composer/Test/Repository/PathRepositoryTest.php
index 159d8cc97..f2c8a9192 100644
--- a/tests/Composer/Test/Repository/PathRepositoryTest.php
+++ b/tests/Composer/Test/Repository/PathRepositoryTest.php
@@ -97,6 +97,37 @@ class PathRepositoryTest extends TestCase
         $this->assertEquals(array('test/path-unversioned', 'test/path-versioned'), $names);
     }
 
+    public function testLoadPackageWithExplicitVersions()
+    {
+        $ioInterface = $this->getMockBuilder('Composer\IO\IOInterface')
+            ->getMock();
+
+        $config = new \Composer\Config();
+        $versionGuesser = null;
+
+        $options = array(
+            'versions' => array(
+                'test/path-unversioned' => '4.3.2.1',
+                'test/path-versioned' => '3.2.1.0',
+            ),
+        );
+        $repositoryUrl = implode(DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR, array(__DIR__, 'Fixtures', 'path', '*'));
+        $repository = new PathRepository(array('url' => $repositoryUrl, 'options' => $options), $ioInterface, $config);
+        $packages = $repository->getPackages();
+        $versions = array();
+
+        $this->assertEquals(2, $repository->count());
+
+        $package = $packages[0];
+        $versions[$package->getName()] = $package->getVersion();
+
+        $package = $packages[1];
+        $versions[$package->getName()] = $package->getVersion();
+
+        ksort($versions);
+        $this->assertSame(array('test/path-unversioned' => '4.3.2.1', 'test/path-versioned' => '3.2.1.0'), $versions);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Verify relative repository URLs remain relative, see #4439
      */