diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/step_create_vmx.go b/builder/vmware/iso/step_create_vmx.go
index 0261123a6..207d38caa 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/step_create_vmx.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/step_create_vmx.go
@@ -196,6 +196,9 @@ func unformat_serial(config string) (*serialUnion, error) {
 
 		return &serialUnion{serialType: res, auto: res}, nil
 
+	case "NONE":
+		return &serialUnion{serialType: nil}, nil
+
 	default:
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Unknown serial type : %s : %s", strings.ToUpper(formatType), config)
 	}
@@ -270,7 +273,11 @@ func unformat_parallel(config string) (*parallelUnion, error) {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Unknown parallel port direction : %s : %s", strings.ToUpper(formatOptions), config)
 		}
 		return &parallelUnion{parallelType: res, auto: res}, nil
+
+	case "NONE":
+		return &parallelUnion{parallelType: nil}, nil
 	}
+
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("Unexpected format for parallel port: %s", config)
 }
 
@@ -431,6 +438,8 @@ func (s *stepCreateVMX) Run(_ context.Context, state multistep.StateBag) multist
 			templateData.Serial_Filename = filepath.FromSlash(serial.auto.devicename)
 			templateData.Serial_Yield = serial.auto.yield
 			templateData.Serial_Auto = "TRUE"
+		case nil:
+			break
 
 		default:
 			err := fmt.Errorf("Error procesing VMX template: %v", serial)
@@ -463,6 +472,9 @@ func (s *stepCreateVMX) Run(_ context.Context, state multistep.StateBag) multist
 			templateData.Parallel_Present = "TRUE"
 			templateData.Parallel_Auto = "TRUE"
 			templateData.Parallel_Bidirectional = parallel.auto.bidirectional
+		case nil:
+			break
+
 		default:
 			err := fmt.Errorf("Error procesing VMX template: %v", parallel)
 			state.Put("error", err)
diff --git a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md
index 44285a850..95ab31bef 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md
+++ b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ builder.
 
 -   `parallel` (string) - This specifies a parallel port to add to the VM. It
     has the format of `Type:option1,option2,...`. Type can be one of the
-    following values: "FILE", "DEVICE", or "AUTO".
+    following values: "FILE", "DEVICE", "AUTO", or "NONE".
 
     * `FILE:path` - Specifies the path to the local file to be used for the
                     parallel port.
@@ -217,6 +217,7 @@ builder.
                          parallel port. Direction can be `BI` to specify
                          bidirectional communication or `UNI` to specify
                          unidirectional communication.
+    * `NONE` - Specifies to not use a parallel port. (default)
 
 -   `remote_cache_datastore` (string) - The path to the datastore where
     supporting files will be stored during the build on the remote machine. By
@@ -254,7 +255,7 @@ builder.
 
 -   `serial` (string) - This specifies a serial port to add to the VM.
     It has a format of `Type:option1,option2,...`. The field `Type` can be one
-    of the following values: `FILE`, `DEVICE`, `PIPE`, or `AUTO`.
+    of the following values: `FILE`, `DEVICE`, `PIPE`, `AUTO`, or `NONE`.
 
     * `FILE:path(,yield)` - Specifies the path to the local file to be used as the
                             serial port.
@@ -285,6 +286,7 @@ builder.
         * `yield` (bool) - This is an optional boolean that specifies whether
                            the vm should yield the cpu when polling the port.
                            By default, the builder will assume this as `FALSE`.
+    * `NONE` - Specifies to not use a serial port. (default)
 
 -   `shutdown_command` (string) - The command to use to gracefully shut down the
     machine once all the provisioning is done. By default this is an empty