diff --git a/docs/config_flags.md b/docs/config_flags.md
index 6a958d52..d2ca157c 100644
--- a/docs/config_flags.md
+++ b/docs/config_flags.md
@@ -24,3 +24,4 @@ The following flags are a list of all the currently supported options that can b
  - **REMOVE_FILES** : Use REMOVE_FILES=0 to prevent the script from clearing out /var/www/html (useful for working with local files)
  - **APPLICATION_ENV** : set this to development to prevent composer deleteing local dev dependancies
  - **SKIP_CHOWN** : set to 1 to avoid running chown -Rf on /var/www/html
+ - **SKIP_COMPOSER** : set to 1 to avoid installing composer
diff --git a/scripts/start.sh b/scripts/start.sh
index 065e0428..83320d1c 100644
--- a/scripts/start.sh
+++ b/scripts/start.sh
@@ -189,14 +189,16 @@ if [[ "$RUN_SCRIPTS" == "1" ]] ; then
   fi
 fi
 
-# Try auto install for composer
-if [ -f "/var/www/html/composer.lock" ]; then
-    if [ "$APPLICATION_ENV" == "development" ]; then
-        composer global require hirak/prestissimo
-        composer install --working-dir=/var/www/html
-    else
-        composer global require hirak/prestissimo
-        composer install --no-dev --working-dir=/var/www/html
+if [ -z "$SKIP_COMPOSER" ]; then
+    # Try auto install for composer
+    if [ -f "/var/www/html/composer.lock" ]; then
+        if [ "$APPLICATION_ENV" == "development" ]; then
+            composer global require hirak/prestissimo
+            composer install --working-dir=/var/www/html
+        else
+            composer global require hirak/prestissimo
+            composer install --no-dev --working-dir=/var/www/html
+        fi
     fi
 fi