diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/builder.go b/builder/virtualbox/builder.go
index 2a90d41da..2cb149091 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/builder.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/builder.go
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) packer
 		new(stepCreateDisk),
 		new(stepAttachISO),
 		new(stepForwardSSH),
+		new(stepRun),
 	}
 
 	// Setup the state bag
diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/step_forward_ssh.go b/builder/virtualbox/step_forward_ssh.go
index a627939da..8fcf78f45 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/step_forward_ssh.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/step_forward_ssh.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"math/rand"
 	"net"
-	"time"
 )
 
 // This step adds a NAT port forwarding definition so that SSH is available
@@ -52,7 +51,6 @@ func (s *stepForwardSSH) Run(state map[string]interface{}) multistep.StepAction
 	// Save the port we're using so that future steps can use it
 	state["sshHostPort"] = sshHostPort
 
-	time.Sleep(15 * time.Second)
 	return multistep.ActionContinue
 }
 
diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/step_run.go b/builder/virtualbox/step_run.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cfca9eebf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/step_run.go
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package virtualbox
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"github.com/mitchellh/multistep"
+	"github.com/mitchellh/packer/packer"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// This step starts the virtual machine.
+//
+// Uses:
+//
+// Produces:
+type stepRun struct{
+	vmName string
+}
+
+func (s *stepRun) Run(state map[string]interface{}) multistep.StepAction {
+	driver := state["driver"].(Driver)
+	ui := state["ui"].(packer.Ui)
+	vmName := state["vmName"].(string)
+
+	ui.Say("Starting the virtual machine...")
+	command := []string{"startvm", vmName, "--type", "gui"}
+	if err := driver.VBoxManage(command...); err != nil {
+		ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error starting VM: %s", err))
+		return multistep.ActionHalt
+	}
+
+	s.vmName = vmName
+
+	time.Sleep(15 * time.Second)
+	return multistep.ActionContinue
+}
+
+func (s *stepRun) Cleanup(state map[string]interface{}) {
+	if s.vmName == "" {
+		return
+	}
+
+	driver := state["driver"].(Driver)
+	ui := state["ui"].(packer.Ui)
+	if err := driver.VBoxManage("controlvm", s.vmName, "poweroff"); err != nil {
+		ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error shutting down VM: %s", err))
+	}
+}