 
     console.log "Checking for erroneous npm dependencies..."
 
-    packageJson = require(paths.application.configs.packageJson)
+    packageJsonData = fs.readFileSync paths.application.configs.packageJson, 'utf-8'
+    packageJson = JSON.parse(packageJsonData)
 
     if (packageJson?.devDependencies?["grunt-extend-config"]? ||
        packageJson?.devDependencies?["grunt-contrib-clean"]? ||

        @updateTo3_1_0()
      ).then( =>
        @updateTo3_1_4()
      ).then( =>
        @ensureNoBadGruntDeps()
      ).then( =>


    return deferred.promise

  addGruntSteroidsDependency: ->
    deferred = Q.defer()

    console.log("Adding #{chalk.bold("grunt-steroids")} devDependency to #{chalk.bold("package.json")}...")

    packageJsonData = fs.readFileSync paths.application.configs.packageJson, 'utf-8'
    packageJson = JSON.parse(packageJsonData)

    if packageJson.devDependencies?
      packageJson.devDependencies["grunt-steroids"] = "0.x"
