diff --git a/src/Composer/Repository/RepositoryFactory.php b/src/Composer/Repository/RepositoryFactory.php
index 3c7e837c3..d8e917147 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Repository/RepositoryFactory.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Repository/RepositoryFactory.php
@@ -93,7 +93,9 @@ class RepositoryFactory
     {
         if (!$config) {
             $config = Factory::createConfig($io);
-            $io->loadConfiguration($config);
+            if ($io) {
+                $io->loadConfiguration($config);
+            }
         }
         if (!$rm) {
             if (!$io) {