diff --git a/src/Composer/Repository/Vcs/SvnDriver.php b/src/Composer/Repository/Vcs/SvnDriver.php
index 61a9573fa..c11e417ab 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Repository/Vcs/SvnDriver.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Repository/Vcs/SvnDriver.php
@@ -262,7 +262,16 @@ class SvnDriver extends VcsDriver
             $ignoredOutput
         );
 
-        return $exit === 0;
+        if ($exit === 0) {
+            // This is definitely a Subversion repository.
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (preg_match('/authorization failed/i', $processExecutor->getErrorOutput())) {
+            // This is likely a remote Subversion repository that requires
+            // authentication. We will handle actual authentication later.
+            return true;
+        }
+        return false;
     }
 
     /**