diff --git a/packer/environment.go b/packer/environment.go
index a0f7dad42..d9f47d2fe 100644
--- a/packer/environment.go
+++ b/packer/environment.go
@@ -80,6 +80,11 @@ func NewEnvironment(config *EnvironmentConfig) (env *Environment, err error) {
 	return
 }
 
+// Returns the BuilderFactory associated with this Environment.
+func (e *Environment) BuilderFactory() BuilderFactory {
+	return e.builderFactory
+}
+
 // Executes a command as if it was typed on the command-line interface.
 // The return value is the exit code of the command.
 func (e *Environment) Cli(args []string) int {
diff --git a/packer/environment_test.go b/packer/environment_test.go
index ad8decc60..63d5a8127 100644
--- a/packer/environment_test.go
+++ b/packer/environment_test.go
@@ -60,6 +60,15 @@ func TestNewEnvironment_NoConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NotNil(err, "should be an error")
 }
 
+func TestEnvironment_GetBuilderFactory(t *testing.T) {
+	assert := asserts.NewTestingAsserts(t, true)
+
+	config := DefaultEnvironmentConfig()
+	env, _ := NewEnvironment(config)
+
+	assert.Equal(env.BuilderFactory(), config.BuilderFactory, "should match factories")
+}
+
 func TestEnvironment_Cli_CallsRun(t *testing.T) {
 	assert := asserts.NewTestingAsserts(t, true)