diff --git a/src/Composer/Console/Application.php b/src/Composer/Console/Application.php
index d6b265f53..96ba7d900 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Console/Application.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Console/Application.php
@@ -126,6 +126,24 @@ class Application extends BaseApplication
             }
         }
 
+        // prompt user for dir change if no composer.json is present in current dir
+        if ($io->isInteractive() && !in_array($commandName, array('init', 'about', 'help', 'diagnose', 'self-update', 'global'), true) && !file_exists('./composer.json')) {
+            $dir = dirname(getcwd());
+            $home = realpath(getenv('HOME') ?: getenv('USERPROFILE') ?: '/');
+
+            // abort when we reach the home dir or top of the filesystem
+            while (dirname($dir) !== $dir && $dir !== $home) {
+                if (file_exists($dir.'/composer.json')) {
+                    if ($io->askConfirmation('<info>No composer.json in current directory, do you want to use the one at '.$dir.'?</info> [<comment>Y,n</comment>]? ', true)) {
+                        $oldWorkingDir = getcwd();
+                        chdir($dir);
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+                $dir = dirname($dir);
+            }
+        }
+
         if (!$this->disablePluginsByDefault && !$this->hasPluginCommands && 'global' !== $commandName) {
             try {
                 foreach ($this->getPluginCommands() as $command) {