diff --git a/src/Composer/Console/Application.php b/src/Composer/Console/Application.php
index a87f40f8c..48d617307 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Console/Application.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Console/Application.php
@@ -419,7 +419,10 @@ class Application extends BaseApplication
             } catch (\InvalidArgumentException $e) {
                 if ($required) {
                     $this->io->writeError($e->getMessage());
-                    exit(1);
+                    if ($this->areExceptionsCaught()){
+                        exit(1);
+                    }
+                    throw $e;
                 }
             } catch (JsonValidationException $e) {
                 if ($required) {