diff --git a/lib/in/read-package-json.js b/lib/in/read-package-json.js
index 5c2e0e82..a238e8d9 100644
--- a/lib/in/read-package-json.js
+++ b/lib/in/read-package-json.js
@@ -1,17 +1,20 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const extend = require('xtend');
+const fs = require('fs');
 
 function readPackageJson(filename) {
     let pkg;
     let error;
     try {
-        pkg = require(filename);
+        pkg = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(filename, 'utf8'));
     } catch (e) {
-        if (e.code === 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND') {
+        if (e.code === 'ENOENT') {
             error = new Error(`A package.json was not found at ${filename}`);
-        } else {
+        } else if(e instanceof SyntaxError) {
             error = new Error(`A package.json was found at ${filename}, but it is not valid.`);
+        } else {
+            error = e;
         }
     }
     return extend({devDependencies: {}, dependencies: {}, error: error}, pkg)