diff --git a/src/Composer/Console/Application.php b/src/Composer/Console/Application.php
index 48d61730773d..7a298756e876 100644
--- a/src/Composer/Console/Application.php
+++ b/src/Composer/Console/Application.php
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ public function getComposer($required = true, $disablePlugins = null)
             } catch (\InvalidArgumentException $e) {
                 if ($required) {
                     $this->io->writeError($e->getMessage());
-                    if ($this->areExceptionsCaught()){
+                    if ($this->catchExceptions) {
                         exit(1);
                     }
                     throw $e;