diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/driver.go b/builder/vmware/iso/driver.go
index 6a1b89918..f461c0927 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/driver.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/driver.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ func NewDriver(config *Config) (vmwcommon.Driver, error) {
 			Port:           config.RemotePort,
 			Username:       config.RemoteUser,
 			Password:       config.RemotePassword,
-			PrivateKey:     config.RemotePrivateKey,
+			PrivateKeyFile: config.RemotePrivateKey,
 			Datastore:      config.RemoteDatastore,
 			CacheDatastore: config.RemoteCacheDatastore,
 			CacheDirectory: config.RemoteCacheDirectory,
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/driver_esx5.go b/builder/vmware/iso/driver_esx5.go
index 48f265bbf..998e70550 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/driver_esx5.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/driver_esx5.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ type ESX5Driver struct {
 	Port           uint
 	Username       string
 	Password       string
-	PrivateKey     string
+	PrivateKeyFile string
 	Datastore      string
 	CacheDatastore string
 	CacheDirectory string
@@ -514,8 +514,8 @@ func (d *ESX5Driver) connect() error {
 			ssh.PasswordKeyboardInteractive(d.Password)),
 	}
 
-	if d.PrivateKey != "" {
-		signer, err := helperssh.FileSigner(d.PrivateKey)
+	if d.PrivateKeyFile != "" {
+		signer, err := helperssh.FileSigner(d.PrivateKeyFile)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}