diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/builder.go b/builder/virtualbox/builder.go
index 703a9ba92..b7bc58c16 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/builder.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/builder.go
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ type config struct {
 	GuestAdditionsSHA256 string     `mapstructure:"guest_additions_sha256"`
 	GuestOSType          string     `mapstructure:"guest_os_type"`
 	Headless             bool       `mapstructure:"headless"`
+	HardDriveInterface   string     `mapstructure:"hard_drive_interface"`
 	HTTPDir              string     `mapstructure:"http_directory"`
 	HTTPPortMin          uint       `mapstructure:"http_port_min"`
 	HTTPPortMax          uint       `mapstructure:"http_port_max"`
@@ -89,6 +90,10 @@ func (b *Builder) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) error {
 		b.config.GuestAdditionsPath = "VBoxGuestAdditions.iso"
 	}
 
+	if b.config.HardDriveInterface == "" {
+		b.config.HardDriveInterface = "ide"
+	}
+
 	if b.config.GuestOSType == "" {
 		b.config.GuestOSType = "Other"
 	}
diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/step_create_disk.go b/builder/virtualbox/step_create_disk.go
index cb456ed0a..80abeeb75 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/step_create_disk.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/step_create_disk.go
@@ -39,7 +39,9 @@ func (s *stepCreateDisk) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 		return multistep.ActionHalt
 	}
 
-	// Add the IDE controller so we can later attach the disk
+	// Add the IDE controller so we can later attach the disk.
+	// When the hard disk controller is not IDE, this device is still used
+	// by VirtualBox to deliver the guest extensions.
 	controllerName := "IDE Controller"
 	err = driver.VBoxManage("storagectl", vmName, "--name", controllerName, "--add", "ide")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -49,6 +51,22 @@ func (s *stepCreateDisk) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 		return multistep.ActionHalt
 	}
 
+	if config.HardDriveInterface == "sata" {
+		controllerName = "SATA Controller"
+		command = []string{
+			"storagectl", vmName,
+			"--name", controllerName,
+			"--add", "sata",
+			"--sataportcount", "1",
+		}
+		if err := driver.VBoxManage(command...); err != nil {
+			err := fmt.Errorf("Error creating disk controller: %s", err)
+			state.Put("error", err)
+			ui.Error(err.Error())
+			return multistep.ActionHalt
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Attach the disk to the controller
 	command = []string{
 		"storageattach", vmName,
diff --git a/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox.html.markdown b/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox.html.markdown
index 8b38740fb..c4cbe6a39 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox.html.markdown
+++ b/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox.html.markdown
@@ -108,6 +108,10 @@ Optional:
   how to optimize the virtual hardware to work best with that operating
   system.
 
+* `hard_drive_interface` (string) - The type of controller that the primary
+  hard drive is attached to, defaults to "ide".  When set to "sata", the
+  drive is attached to an AHCI SATA controller.
+
 * `headless` (bool) - Packer defaults to building VirtualBox
   virtual machines by launching a GUI that shows the console of the
   machine being built. When this value is set to true, the machine will