diff --git a/builder/vmware/builder.go b/builder/vmware/builder.go
index f6388827e..e48103c73 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/builder.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/builder.go
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ type config struct {
 	HTTPPortMax       uint              `mapstructure:"http_port_max"`
 	BootCommand       []string          `mapstructure:"boot_command"`
 	BootWait          time.Duration     ``
+	SkipCompaction    bool              `mapstructure:"skip_compaction"`
 	ShutdownCommand   string            `mapstructure:"shutdown_command"`
 	ShutdownTimeout   time.Duration     ``
 	SSHUser           string            `mapstructure:"ssh_username"`
diff --git a/builder/vmware/step_compact_disk.go b/builder/vmware/step_compact_disk.go
index d399322a7..05bbc62da 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/step_compact_disk.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/step_compact_disk.go
@@ -4,11 +4,14 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/multistep"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/packer/packer"
+	"log"
 )
 
-// This step compacts the virtual disk for the VM.
+// This step compacts the virtual disk for the VM unless the "skip_compaction"
+// boolean is true.
 //
 // Uses:
+//   config *config
 //   driver Driver
 //   full_disk_path string
 //   ui     packer.Ui
@@ -18,10 +21,16 @@ import (
 type stepCompactDisk struct{}
 
 func (stepCompactDisk) Run(state map[string]interface{}) multistep.StepAction {
+	config := state["config"].(*config)
 	driver := state["driver"].(Driver)
 	ui := state["ui"].(packer.Ui)
 	full_disk_path := state["full_disk_path"].(string)
 
+	if config.SkipCompaction == true {
+		log.Println("Skipping disk compaction step...")
+		return multistep.ActionContinue
+	}
+
 	ui.Say("Compacting the disk image")
 	if err := driver.CompactDisk(full_disk_path); err != nil {
 		state["error"] = fmt.Errorf("Error compacting disk: %s", err)