diff --git a/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner.go b/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner.go
index f08c2985f..89d3cd05b 100644
--- a/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner.go
+++ b/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner.go
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ type Config struct {
 	// The directory where files will be uploaded. Packer requires write
 	// permissions in this directory.
 	StagingDir string `mapstructure:"staging_directory"`
+
+	// The optional inventory file
+	InventoryFile string `mapstructure:"inventory_file"`
 }
 
 type Provisioner struct {
@@ -72,11 +75,12 @@ func (p *Provisioner) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) error {
 
 	// Templates
 	templates := map[string]*string{
-		"command":       &p.config.Command,
-		"group_vars":    &p.config.GroupVars,
-		"host_vars":     &p.config.HostVars,
-		"playbook_file": &p.config.PlaybookFile,
-		"staging_dir":   &p.config.StagingDir,
+		"command":        &p.config.Command,
+		"group_vars":     &p.config.GroupVars,
+		"host_vars":      &p.config.HostVars,
+		"playbook_file":  &p.config.PlaybookFile,
+		"staging_dir":    &p.config.StagingDir,
+		"inventory_file": &p.config.InventoryFile,
 	}
 
 	for n, ptr := range templates {
@@ -111,6 +115,14 @@ func (p *Provisioner) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) error {
 		errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs, err)
 	}
 
+	// Check that the inventory file exists, if configured
+	if len(p.config.InventoryFile) > 0 {
+		err = validateFileConfig(p.config.InventoryFile, "inventory_file", true)
+		if err != nil {
+			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 {
@@ -158,6 +170,15 @@ func (p *Provisioner) Provision(ui packer.Ui, comm packer.Communicator) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Error uploading main playbook: %s", err)
 	}
 
+	if len(p.config.InventoryFile) > 0 {
+		ui.Message("Uploading inventory file...")
+		src := p.config.InventoryFile
+		dst := filepath.Join(p.config.StagingDir, filepath.Base(src))
+		if err := p.uploadFile(ui, comm, dst, src); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Error uploading inventory file: %s", err)
+		}
+	}
+
 	if len(p.config.GroupVars) > 0 {
 		ui.Message("Uploading group_vars directory...")
 		src := p.config.GroupVars
@@ -217,13 +238,18 @@ 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.
+	inventory := "\"127.0.0.1,\""
+	if len(p.config.InventoryFile) > 0 {
+		inventory = filepath.Join(p.config.StagingDir, filepath.Base(p.config.InventoryFile))
+	}
+
 	extraArgs := ""
 	if len(p.config.ExtraArguments) > 0 {
 		extraArgs = " " + strings.Join(p.config.ExtraArguments, " ")
 	}
 
-	command := fmt.Sprintf("%s %s%s -c local -i \"127.0.0.1,\"",
-		p.config.Command, playbook, extraArgs)
+	command := fmt.Sprintf("%s %s%s -c local -i %s",
+		p.config.Command, playbook, extraArgs, inventory)
 	ui.Message(fmt.Sprintf("Executing Ansible: %s", command))
 	cmd := &packer.RemoteCmd{
 		Command: command,
diff --git a/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner_test.go b/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner_test.go
index 2504cb4b1..45ee1c6e3 100644
--- a/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner_test.go
+++ b/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner_test.go
@@ -70,6 +70,46 @@ func TestProvisionerPrepare_PlaybookFile(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestProvisionerPrepare_InventoryFile(t *testing.T) {
+	var p Provisioner
+	config := testConfig()
+
+	err := p.Prepare(config)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("should have error")
+	}
+
+	config["playbook_file"] = ""
+	err = p.Prepare(config)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("should have error")
+	}
+
+	playbook_file, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "playbook")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
+	}
+	defer os.Remove(playbook_file.Name())
+
+	config["playbook_file"] = playbook_file.Name()
+	err = p.Prepare(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	inventory_file, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "inventory")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
+	}
+	defer os.Remove(inventory_file.Name())
+
+	config["inventory_file"] = inventory_file.Name()
+	err = p.Prepare(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestProvisionerPrepare_Dirs(t *testing.T) {
 	var p Provisioner
 	config := testConfig()
diff --git a/website/source/docs/provisioners/ansible-local.html.markdown b/website/source/docs/provisioners/ansible-local.html.markdown
index bcc9a0962..40b883280 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/provisioners/ansible-local.html.markdown
+++ b/website/source/docs/provisioners/ansible-local.html.markdown
@@ -39,6 +39,35 @@ Optional:
 * `extra_arguments` (array of strings) - An array of extra arguments to pass to the
   ansible command. By default, this is empty.
 
+* `inventory_file` (string) - The inventory file to be used by ansible.
+  This file must exist on your local system and will be uploaded to the
+  remote machine.
+
+  When using an inventory file, it's also required to `--limit` the hosts to
+  the specified host you're buiding. The `--limit` argument can be provided in
+  the `extra_arguments` option.
+
+  An example inventory file may look like:
+  <pre class="prettyprint">
+  [chi-dbservers]
+  db-01 ansible_connection=local
+  db-02 ansible_connection=local
+
+  [chi-appservers]
+  app-01 ansible_connection=local
+  app-02 ansible_connection=local
+
+  [chi:children]
+  chi-dbservers
+  chi-appservers
+
+  [dbservers:children]
+  chi-dbservers
+
+  [appservers:children]
+  chi-appservers
+  </pre>
+
 * `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.