diff --git a/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner.go b/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner.go
index 1347376f0..c7672a68d 100644
--- a/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner.go
+++ b/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/mitchellh/packer/packer"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 )
 
 const DefaultStagingDir = "/tmp/packer-provisioner-ansible-local"
@@ -23,9 +24,21 @@ type Config struct {
 	// An array of local paths of roles to upload.
 	RolePaths []string `mapstructure:"role_paths"`
 
+	// Path to group_vars directory
+	GroupVars string `mapstructure:"group_vars"`
+
+	// Path to host_vars directory
+	HostVars string `mapstructure:"host_vars"`
+
 	// The directory where files will be uploaded. Packer requires write
 	// permissions in this directory.
 	StagingDir string `mapstructure:"staging_directory"`
+
+	// The command to run ansible
+	Command string
+
+	// Extra options to pass to the ansible command
+	ExtraArguments []string `mapstructure:"extra_arguments"`
 }
 
 type Provisioner struct {
@@ -48,14 +61,22 @@ func (p *Provisioner) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) error {
 	// Accumulate any errors
 	errs := common.CheckUnusedConfig(md)
 
+	// Defaults
 	if p.config.StagingDir == "" {
 		p.config.StagingDir = DefaultStagingDir
 	}
 
+	if p.config.Command == "" {
+		p.config.Command = "ansible-playbook"
+	}
+
 	// Templates
 	templates := map[string]*string{
 		"playbook_file": &p.config.PlaybookFile,
 		"staging_dir":   &p.config.StagingDir,
+		"command":       &p.config.Command,
+		"group_vars":    &p.config.GroupVars,
+		"host_vars":     &p.config.HostVars,
 	}
 
 	for n, ptr := range templates {
@@ -68,8 +89,9 @@ func (p *Provisioner) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) error {
 	}
 
 	sliceTemplates := map[string][]string{
-		"playbook_paths": p.config.PlaybookPaths,
-		"role_paths":     p.config.RolePaths,
+		"playbook_paths":  p.config.PlaybookPaths,
+		"role_paths":      p.config.RolePaths,
+		"extra_arguments": p.config.ExtraArguments,
 	}
 
 	for n, slice := range sliceTemplates {
@@ -99,6 +121,20 @@ func (p *Provisioner) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) error {
 			errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs, err)
 		}
 	}
+
+	// Check that the group_vars directory exists, if configured
+	if len(p.config.GroupVars) > 0 {
+		if err := validateDirConfig(p.config.GroupVars, "group_vars"); err != nil {
+			errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Check that the host_vars directory exists, if configured
+	if len(p.config.HostVars) > 0 {
+		if err := validateDirConfig(p.config.HostVars, "host_vars"); err != nil {
+			errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs, err)
+		}
+	}
 	if errs != nil && len(errs.Errors) > 0 {
 		return errs
 	}
@@ -120,6 +156,26 @@ func (p *Provisioner) Provision(ui packer.Ui, comm packer.Communicator) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Error uploading main playbook: %s", err)
 	}
 
+	// Upload group_vars
+	if len(p.config.GroupVars) > 0 {
+		ui.Message("Uploading group_vars directory...")
+		src := p.config.GroupVars
+		dst := filepath.Join(p.config.StagingDir, "group_vars")
+		if err := p.uploadDir(ui, comm, dst, src); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Error uploading group_vars directory: %s", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Upload host_vars
+	if len(p.config.HostVars) > 0 {
+		ui.Message("Uploading host_vars directory...")
+		src := p.config.HostVars
+		dst := filepath.Join(p.config.StagingDir, "host_vars")
+		if err := p.uploadDir(ui, comm, dst, src); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Error uploading host_vars directory: %s", err)
+		}
+	}
+
 	if len(p.config.RolePaths) > 0 {
 		ui.Message("Uploading role directories...")
 		for _, src := range p.config.RolePaths {
@@ -161,7 +217,13 @@ func (p *Provisioner) executeAnsible(ui packer.Ui, comm packer.Communicator) err
 	// The inventory must be set to "127.0.0.1,".  The comma is important
 	// as its the only way to override the ansible inventory when dealing
 	// with a single host.
-	command := fmt.Sprintf("ansible-playbook %s -c local -i %s", playbook, `"127.0.0.1,"`)
+	var command string
+	if len(p.config.ExtraArguments) > 0 {
+		command = fmt.Sprintf("%s %s %s -c local -i \"127.0.0.1,\"", p.config.Command,
+			playbook, strings.Join(p.config.ExtraArguments, " "))
+	} else {
+		command = fmt.Sprintf("%s %s -c local -i \"127.0.0.1,\"", p.config.Command, playbook)
+	}
 
 	ui.Message(fmt.Sprintf("Executing Ansible: %s", command))
 	cmd := &packer.RemoteCmd{
diff --git a/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner_test.go b/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner_test.go
index 21f83affd..2504cb4b1 100644
--- a/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner_test.go
+++ b/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner_test.go
@@ -120,4 +120,28 @@ func TestProvisionerPrepare_Dirs(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
 	}
+
+	config["group_vars"] = playbook_file.Name()
+	err = p.Prepare(config)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("should error if group_vars path is not a dir")
+	}
+
+	config["group_vars"] = os.TempDir()
+	err = p.Prepare(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	config["host_vars"] = playbook_file.Name()
+	err = p.Prepare(config)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("should error if host_vars path is not a dir")
+	}
+
+	config["host_vars"] = os.TempDir()
+	err = p.Prepare(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/website/source/docs/provisioners/ansible-local.html.markdown b/website/source/docs/provisioners/ansible-local.html.markdown
index 6c309d7ba..a5e423509 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/provisioners/ansible-local.html.markdown
+++ b/website/source/docs/provisioners/ansible-local.html.markdown
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ Required:
 
 Optional:
 
+* `command` (string) - The command to invoke ansible. Defaults to "ansible-playbook".
+
+* `extra_arguments` (array of strings) - An array of extra arguments to pass to the
+  ansible command. By default, this is empty.
+
 * `playbook_paths` (array of strings) - An array of paths to playbook files on
   your local system. These will be uploaded to the remote machine under
   `staging_directory`/playbooks. By default, this is empty.