diff --git a/bin/compile b/bin/compile
index d9e0388f..a86e865f 100755
--- a/bin/compile
+++ b/bin/compile
@@ -495,11 +495,24 @@ if [ -n "$PHP_FPM_INCLUDES" ] ; then
     done
 fi
 
-if [ "$PHP_BUILDPACK_NO_NODE" != "true" ] ; then
-  install_node_deps "$BUILD_DIR"
+
+# By default, we run npm first, and then Composer.
+# If PHP_BUILDPACK_RUN_COMPOSER_FIRST is set to "true", we run Composer first
+# and then npm.
+# This is especially useful for frameworks such a symfony-ux that require
+# Composer to run before npm.
+if [[ "${PHP_BUILDPACK_RUN_COMPOSER_FIRST:-}" = 'true' ]]; then
+	install_composer_deps "${BUILD_DIR}" "${CACHE_DIR}" "${ENV_DIR}"
+fi
+
+if [[ "${PHP_BUILDPACK_NO_NODE:-}" != "true" ]] ; then
+	install_node_deps "${BUILD_DIR}"
+fi
+
+if [[ "${PHP_BUILDPACK_RUN_COMPOSER_FIRST:-}" != 'true' ]]; then
+	install_composer_deps "${BUILD_DIR}" "${CACHE_DIR}" "${ENV_DIR}"
 fi
 
-install_composer_deps "${BUILD_DIR}" "${CACHE_DIR}" "${ENV_DIR}"
 
 # Detect PHP framework
 # Set FRAMEWORK if not set in environment by user