diff --git a/command/command_test.go b/command/command_test.go
index 126897810..4ba4b8787 100644
--- a/command/command_test.go
+++ b/command/command_test.go
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ func fatalCommand(t *testing.T, m Meta) {
 		err.String())
 }
 
+func outputCommand(t *testing.T, m Meta) (string, string) {
+	ui := m.Ui.(*packer.BasicUi)
+	out := ui.Writer.(*bytes.Buffer)
+	err := ui.ErrorWriter.(*bytes.Buffer)
+	return out.String(), err.String()
+}
+
 func testFixture(n string) string {
 	return filepath.Join(fixturesDir, n)
 }
diff --git a/command/meta.go b/command/meta.go
index 1c0864f92..d22efcaba 100644
--- a/command/meta.go
+++ b/command/meta.go
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ func (m *Meta) Core(tpl *template.Template) (*packer.Core, error) {
 	config := *m.CoreConfig
 	config.Template = tpl
 	config.Variables = m.flagVars
-	config.Version = m.Version
 
 	// Init the core
 	core, err := packer.NewCore(&config)
diff --git a/command/push_test.go b/command/push_test.go
index f1b7fd306..9d7b79be7 100644
--- a/command/push_test.go
+++ b/command/push_test.go
@@ -122,10 +122,8 @@ func TestPush_noName(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestPush_cliName(t *testing.T) {
 	var actual []string
-	var actualOpts *uploadOpts
 	uploadFn := func(r io.Reader, opts *uploadOpts) (<-chan struct{}, <-chan error, error) {
 		actual = testArchive(t, r)
-		actualOpts = opts
 
 		doneCh := make(chan struct{})
 		close(doneCh)
diff --git a/command/test-fixtures/validate/template.json b/command/test-fixtures/validate/template.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..75b3f6251
--- /dev/null
+++ b/command/test-fixtures/validate/template.json
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{
+  "builders":[
+    {
+      "type":"file",
+      "target":"chocolate.txt",
+      "content":"chocolate"
+    }
+  ],
+  "min_packer_version":"101.0.0"
+}
diff --git a/command/validate_test.go b/command/validate_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b15e5f155
--- /dev/null
+++ b/command/validate_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package command
+
+import (
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestValidateCommandOKVersion(t *testing.T) {
+	c := &ValidateCommand{
+		Meta: testMetaFile(t),
+	}
+	args := []string{
+		filepath.Join(testFixture("validate"), "template.json"),
+	}
+
+	// This should pass with a valid configuration version
+	c.CoreConfig.Version = "102.0.0"
+	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
+		fatalCommand(t, c.Meta)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestValidateCommandBadVersion(t *testing.T) {
+	c := &ValidateCommand{
+		Meta: testMetaFile(t),
+	}
+	args := []string{
+		filepath.Join(testFixture("validate"), "template.json"),
+	}
+
+	// This should fail with an invalid configuration version
+	c.CoreConfig.Version = "100.0.0"
+	if code := c.Run(args); code != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("Expected exit code 1")
+	}
+
+	stdout, stderr := outputCommand(t, c.Meta)
+	expected := `Error initializing core: This template requires Packer version 101.0.0 or higher; using 100.0.0
+`
+	if stderr != expected {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected:\n%s\nFound:\n%s\n", expected, stderr)
+	}
+	t.Log(stdout)
+}
diff --git a/packer/core.go b/packer/core.go
index f9bf87b9d..496fce6bd 100644
--- a/packer/core.go
+++ b/packer/core.go
@@ -246,8 +246,7 @@ func (c *Core) validate() error {
 
 		if versionActual.LessThan(versionMin) {
 			return fmt.Errorf(
-				"This template requires a minimum Packer version of %s,\n"+
-					"but version %s is running.",
+				"This template requires Packer version %s or higher; using %s",
 				versionMin,
 				versionActual)
 		}