diff --git a/builder/vmware/common/run_config.go b/builder/vmware/common/run_config.go
index 89f48b9c6..9463d8753 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/common/run_config.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/run_config.go
@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 type RunConfig struct {
-	Headless    bool   `mapstructure:"headless"`
-	RawBootWait string `mapstructure:"boot_wait"`
+	Headless    bool     `mapstructure:"headless"`
+	RawBootWait string   `mapstructure:"boot_wait"`
+	DisableVNC  bool     `mapstructure:"disable_vnc"`
+	BootCommand []string `mapstructure:"boot_command"`
 
 	VNCBindAddress     string `mapstructure:"vnc_bind_address"`
 	VNCPortMin         uint   `mapstructure:"vnc_port_min"`
@@ -38,6 +40,11 @@ func (c *RunConfig) Prepare(ctx *interpolate.Context) []error {
 
 	var errs []error
 	var err error
+	if len(c.BootCommand) > 0 && c.DisableVNC {
+		errs = append(errs,
+			fmt.Errorf("A boot command cannot be used when vnc is disabled."))
+	}
+
 	if c.RawBootWait != "" {
 		c.BootWait, err = time.ParseDuration(c.RawBootWait)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/builder/vmware/common/step_clean_vmx.go b/builder/vmware/common/step_clean_vmx.go
index d016f35a3..853233e89 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/common/step_clean_vmx.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/step_clean_vmx.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 //   <nothing>
 type StepCleanVMX struct {
 	RemoveEthernetInterfaces bool
+	VNCEnabled               bool
 }
 
 func (s StepCleanVMX) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
@@ -59,8 +60,10 @@ func (s StepCleanVMX) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 		vmxData[ide+"clientdevice"] = "TRUE"
 	}
 
-	ui.Message("Disabling VNC server...")
-	vmxData["remotedisplay.vnc.enabled"] = "FALSE"
+	if s.VNCEnabled {
+		ui.Message("Disabling VNC server...")
+		vmxData["remotedisplay.vnc.enabled"] = "FALSE"
+	}
 
 	if s.RemoveEthernetInterfaces {
 		ui.Message("Removing Ethernet Interfaces...")
diff --git a/builder/vmware/common/step_configure_vnc.go b/builder/vmware/common/step_configure_vnc.go
index 4b6a6cdae..4e4798862 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/common/step_configure_vnc.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/step_configure_vnc.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 // Produces:
 //   vnc_port uint - The port that VNC is configured to listen on.
 type StepConfigureVNC struct {
+	Enabled            bool
 	VNCBindAddress     string
 	VNCPortMin         uint
 	VNCPortMax         uint
@@ -76,6 +77,11 @@ func VNCPassword(skipPassword bool) string {
 }
 
 func (s *StepConfigureVNC) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
+	if !s.Enabled {
+		log.Println("Skipping VNC configuration step...")
+		return multistep.ActionContinue
+	}
+
 	driver := state.Get("driver").(Driver)
 	ui := state.Get("ui").(packer.Ui)
 	vmxPath := state.Get("vmx_path").(string)
diff --git a/builder/vmware/common/step_run.go b/builder/vmware/common/step_run.go
index bd463799d..2ea61f899 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/common/step_run.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/step_run.go
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@ package common
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
 	"github.com/hashicorp/packer/packer"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/multistep"
-	"time"
 )
 
 // This step runs the created virtual machine.
diff --git a/builder/vmware/common/step_type_boot_command.go b/builder/vmware/common/step_type_boot_command.go
index e82a07031..28db3c72e 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/common/step_type_boot_command.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/step_type_boot_command.go
@@ -36,12 +36,18 @@ type bootCommandTemplateData struct {
 // Produces:
 //   <nothing>
 type StepTypeBootCommand struct {
+	VNCEnabled  bool
 	BootCommand []string
 	VMName      string
 	Ctx         interpolate.Context
 }
 
 func (s *StepTypeBootCommand) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
+	if !s.VNCEnabled {
+		log.Println("Skipping boot command step...")
+		return multistep.ActionContinue
+	}
+
 	debug := state.Get("debug").(bool)
 	driver := state.Get("driver").(Driver)
 	httpPort := state.Get("http_port").(uint)
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go b/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
index 688f52d72..44db307a7 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ type Config struct {
 	vmwcommon.VMXConfig      `mapstructure:",squash"`
 
 	AdditionalDiskSize  []uint   `mapstructure:"disk_additional_size"`
-	BootCommand         []string `mapstructure:"boot_command"`
 	DiskName            string   `mapstructure:"vmdk_name"`
 	DiskSize            uint     `mapstructure:"disk_size"`
 	DiskTypeId          string   `mapstructure:"disk_type_id"`
@@ -149,6 +148,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) ([]string, error) {
 	if b.config.RemotePort == 0 {
 		b.config.RemotePort = 22
 	}
+
 	if b.config.VMXTemplatePath != "" {
 		if err := b.validateVMXTemplatePath(); err != nil {
 			errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(
@@ -179,6 +179,12 @@ func (b *Builder) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) ([]string, error) {
 				"will forcibly halt the virtual machine, which may result in data loss.")
 	}
 
+	if b.config.Headless && b.config.DisableVNC {
+		warnings = append(warnings,
+			"Headless mode uses VNC to retrieve output. Since VNC has been disabled,\n"+
+				"you won't be able to see any output.")
+	}
+
 	if errs != nil && len(errs.Errors) > 0 {
 		return warnings, errs
 	}
@@ -259,6 +265,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 			HTTPPortMax: b.config.HTTPPortMax,
 		},
 		&vmwcommon.StepConfigureVNC{
+			Enabled:            !b.config.DisableVNC,
 			VNCBindAddress:     b.config.VNCBindAddress,
 			VNCPortMin:         b.config.VNCPortMin,
 			VNCPortMax:         b.config.VNCPortMax,
@@ -273,6 +280,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 			Headless:           b.config.Headless,
 		},
 		&vmwcommon.StepTypeBootCommand{
+			VNCEnabled:  !b.config.DisableVNC,
 			BootCommand: b.config.BootCommand,
 			VMName:      b.config.VMName,
 			Ctx:         b.config.ctx,
@@ -303,6 +311,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 		},
 		&vmwcommon.StepCleanVMX{
 			RemoveEthernetInterfaces: b.config.VMXConfig.VMXRemoveEthernet,
+			VNCEnabled:               !b.config.DisableVNC,
 		},
 		&StepUploadVMX{
 			RemoteType: b.config.RemoteType,
diff --git a/builder/vmware/vmx/builder.go b/builder/vmware/vmx/builder.go
index 894c3488a..b7c70d548 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/vmx/builder.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/vmx/builder.go
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 			HTTPPortMax: b.config.HTTPPortMax,
 		},
 		&vmwcommon.StepConfigureVNC{
+			Enabled:            !b.config.DisableVNC,
 			VNCBindAddress:     b.config.VNCBindAddress,
 			VNCPortMin:         b.config.VNCPortMin,
 			VNCPortMax:         b.config.VNCPortMax,
@@ -91,6 +92,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 			Headless:           b.config.Headless,
 		},
 		&vmwcommon.StepTypeBootCommand{
+			VNCEnabled:  !b.config.DisableVNC,
 			BootCommand: b.config.BootCommand,
 			VMName:      b.config.VMName,
 			Ctx:         b.config.ctx,
@@ -121,6 +123,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 		},
 		&vmwcommon.StepCleanVMX{
 			RemoveEthernetInterfaces: b.config.VMXConfig.VMXRemoveEthernet,
+			VNCEnabled:               !b.config.DisableVNC,
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go b/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go
index 145705fd7..b4d1c009f 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go
@@ -24,11 +24,10 @@ type Config struct {
 	vmwcommon.ToolsConfig    `mapstructure:",squash"`
 	vmwcommon.VMXConfig      `mapstructure:",squash"`
 
-	BootCommand    []string `mapstructure:"boot_command"`
-	RemoteType     string   `mapstructure:"remote_type"`
-	SkipCompaction bool     `mapstructure:"skip_compaction"`
-	SourcePath     string   `mapstructure:"source_path"`
-	VMName         string   `mapstructure:"vm_name"`
+	RemoteType     string `mapstructure:"remote_type"`
+	SkipCompaction bool   `mapstructure:"skip_compaction"`
+	SourcePath     string `mapstructure:"source_path"`
+	VMName         string `mapstructure:"vm_name"`
 
 	ctx interpolate.Context
 }
@@ -84,6 +83,12 @@ func NewConfig(raws ...interface{}) (*Config, []string, error) {
 				"will forcibly halt the virtual machine, which may result in data loss.")
 	}
 
+	if c.Headless && c.DisableVNC {
+		warnings = append(warnings,
+			"Headless mode uses VNC to retrieve output. Since VNC has been disabled,\n"+
+				"you won't be able to see any output.")
+	}
+
 	// Check for any errors.
 	if errs != nil && len(errs.Errors) > 0 {
 		return nil, warnings, errs
diff --git a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md
index 4c8c79b8b..29a1a7cb3 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md
+++ b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md
@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@ builder.
     User's Guide](https://www.vmware.com/pdf/VirtualDiskManager.pdf) for desktop
     VMware clients. For ESXi, refer to the proper ESXi documentation.
 
+*   `disable_vnc` (bool) - Whether to create a VNC connection or not.
+    A `boot_command` cannot be used when this is `false`. Defaults to `false`.
+
 -   `floppy_files` (array of strings) - A list of files to place onto a floppy
     disk that is attached when the VM is booted. This is most useful for
     unattended Windows installs, which look for an `Autounattend.xml` file on
@@ -449,7 +452,8 @@ point, the vSphere API may be used.
 Packer also requires VNC to issue boot commands during a build, which may be
 disabled on some remote VMware Hypervisors. Please consult the appropriate
 documentation on how to update VMware Hypervisor's firewall to allow these
-connections.
+connections. VNC can be disabled by not setting a `boot_command` and setting
+`disable_vnc` to `true`.
 
 To use a remote VMware vSphere Hypervisor to build your virtual machine, fill in
 the required `remote_*` configurations:
@@ -481,8 +485,8 @@ modify as well:
 
 -   `format` (string) - Either "ovf", "ova" or "vmx", this specifies the output
     format of the exported virtual machine. This defaults to "ovf".
-    Before using this option, you need to install `ovftool`. This option 
-	works currently only with option remote_type set to "esx5".
+    Before using this option, you need to install `ovftool`. This option
+    works currently only with option remote_type set to "esx5".
 
 ### VNC port discovery
 
diff --git a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-vmx.html.md b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-vmx.html.md
index 1cd6feb64..8aac027b5 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-vmx.html.md
+++ b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-vmx.html.md
@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@ builder.
     five seconds and one minute 30 seconds, respectively. If this isn't
     specified, the default is 10 seconds.
 
+*   `disable_vnc` (bool) - Whether to create a VNC connection or not.
+    A `boot_command` cannot be used when this is `false`. Defaults to `false`.
+
 -   `floppy_files` (array of strings) - A list of files to place onto a floppy
     disk that is attached when the VM is booted. This is most useful for
     unattended Windows installs, which look for an `Autounattend.xml` file on