diff --git a/php/includes/config-after.php b/php/includes/config-after.php
index 5e7d302a..85187925 100644
--- a/php/includes/config-after.php
+++ b/php/includes/config-after.php
@@ -302,5 +302,6 @@
 
 // Tell Totara where composer is
 if (!defined('TOTARA_COMPOSER')) {
-    define('TOTARA_COMPOSER', '/usr/bin/composer');
+    // Disable xdebug when running composer so breakpoints don't interfere with composer operations
+    define('TOTARA_COMPOSER', 'XDEBUG_MODE=off /usr/bin/composer');
 }
diff --git a/shell/util-aliases.sh b/shell/util-aliases.sh
index 9a7727b1..28b6cc76 100644
--- a/shell/util-aliases.sh
+++ b/shell/util-aliases.sh
@@ -101,3 +101,6 @@ totara_version() {
     php -n -r "$php_code echo \$version;"
   fi
 }
+
+# Run composer but disable xdebug for the duration of the command
+alias composer='XDEBUG_MODE=off composer'