diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go b/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
index 7958b5760..ddd7234c0 100755
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	RemotePort           uint   `mapstructure:"remote_port"`
 	RemoteUser           string `mapstructure:"remote_username"`
 	RemotePassword       string `mapstructure:"remote_password"`
+	RemotePrivateKey     string `mapstructure:"remote_private_key_file"`
 
 	ctx interpolate.Context
 }
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/driver.go b/builder/vmware/iso/driver.go
index 2c6c7465d..ba96afe07 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/driver.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/driver.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ func NewDriver(config *Config) (vmwcommon.Driver, error) {
 			Port:           config.RemotePort,
 			Username:       config.RemoteUser,
 			Password:       config.RemotePassword,
+			PrivateKey:     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 e17dd7f69..ee8c5a647 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/driver_esx5.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/driver_esx5.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/mitchellh/multistep"
+	commonssh "github.com/mitchellh/packer/common/ssh"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/packer/communicator/ssh"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/packer/packer"
 	gossh "golang.org/x/crypto/ssh"
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ type ESX5Driver struct {
 	Port           uint
 	Username       string
 	Password       string
+	PrivateKey     string
 	Datastore      string
 	CacheDatastore string
 	CacheDirectory string
@@ -340,7 +342,15 @@ func (d *ESX5Driver) connect() error {
 			ssh.PasswordKeyboardInteractive(d.Password)),
 	}
 
-	// TODO(dougm) KeyPath support
+	if d.PrivateKey != "" {
+		signer, err := commonssh.FileSigner(d.PrivateKey)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		auth = append(auth, gossh.PublicKeys(signer))
+	}
+
 	sshConfig := &ssh.Config{
 		Connection: ssh.ConnectFunc("tcp", address),
 		SSHConfig: &gossh.ClientConfig{
diff --git a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.markdown b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.markdown
index 97bb36aa1..469fdc4bc 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.markdown
+++ b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.markdown
@@ -187,6 +187,10 @@ builder.
     the remote machine. By default this is empty. This only has an effect if
     `remote_type` is enabled.
 
+-   `remote_private_key_file` (string) - The path to the PEM encoded private key
+    file for the user used to access the remote machine. By default this is empty.
+    This only has an effect if `remote_type` is enabled.
+
 -   `remote_type` (string) - The type of remote machine that will be used to
     build this VM rather than a local desktop product. The only value accepted
     for this currently is "esx5". If this is not set, a desktop product will
@@ -398,6 +402,8 @@ modify as well:
 
 -   `remote_password` - The SSH password for access to the remote machine.
 
+-   `remote_private_key_file` - The SSH key for access to the remote machine.
+
 -   `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`.