diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/common/step_export.go b/builder/virtualbox/common/step_export.go
index 26f587875..cf1bd18cf 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/common/step_export.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/common/step_export.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ type StepExport struct {
 	OutputDir      string
 	ExportOpts     []string
 	SkipNatMapping bool
+	SkipExport     bool
 }
 
 func (s *StepExport) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
@@ -28,6 +29,12 @@ func (s *StepExport) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 	ui := state.Get("ui").(packer.Ui)
 	vmName := state.Get("vmName").(string)
 
+	// Skip export if requested
+	if s.SkipExport {
+		ui.Say("Skipping export of virtual machine...")
+		return multistep.ActionContinue
+	}
+
 	// Wait a second to ensure VM is really shutdown.
 	log.Println("1 second timeout to ensure VM is really shutdown")
 	time.Sleep(1 * time.Second)
diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/iso/builder.go b/builder/virtualbox/iso/builder.go
index b833c583b..abe32590c 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/iso/builder.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/iso/builder.go
@@ -39,16 +39,17 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	BootCommand            []string `mapstructure:"boot_command"`
 	DiskSize               uint     `mapstructure:"disk_size"`
-	KeepRegistered         bool     `mapstructure:"keep_registered"`
 	GuestAdditionsMode     string   `mapstructure:"guest_additions_mode"`
 	GuestAdditionsPath     string   `mapstructure:"guest_additions_path"`
-	GuestAdditionsURL      string   `mapstructure:"guest_additions_url"`
 	GuestAdditionsSHA256   string   `mapstructure:"guest_additions_sha256"`
+	GuestAdditionsURL      string   `mapstructure:"guest_additions_url"`
 	GuestOSType            string   `mapstructure:"guest_os_type"`
+	HardDriveDiscard       bool     `mapstructure:"hard_drive_discard"`
 	HardDriveInterface     string   `mapstructure:"hard_drive_interface"`
 	HardDriveNonrotational bool     `mapstructure:"hard_drive_nonrotational"`
-	HardDriveDiscard       bool     `mapstructure:"hard_drive_discard"`
 	ISOInterface           string   `mapstructure:"iso_interface"`
+	KeepRegistered         bool     `mapstructure:"keep_registered"`
+	SkipExport             bool     `mapstructure:"skip_export"`
 	VMName                 string   `mapstructure:"vm_name"`
 
 	ctx interpolate.Context
@@ -268,6 +269,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 			OutputDir:      b.config.OutputDir,
 			ExportOpts:     b.config.ExportOpts.ExportOpts,
 			SkipNatMapping: b.config.SSHSkipNatMapping,
+			SkipExport:     b.config.SkipExport,
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/ovf/builder.go b/builder/virtualbox/ovf/builder.go
index 9cf63af2b..b7d42183e 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/ovf/builder.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/ovf/builder.go
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 			OutputDir:      b.config.OutputDir,
 			ExportOpts:     b.config.ExportOpts.ExportOpts,
 			SkipNatMapping: b.config.SSHSkipNatMapping,
+			SkipExport:     b.config.SkipExport,
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/ovf/config.go b/builder/virtualbox/ovf/config.go
index 5987118cd..0151c3ca1 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/ovf/config.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/ovf/config.go
@@ -27,17 +27,18 @@ type Config struct {
 	vboxcommon.VBoxVersionConfig    `mapstructure:",squash"`
 
 	BootCommand          []string `mapstructure:"boot_command"`
-	SourcePath           string   `mapstructure:"source_path"`
 	Checksum             string   `mapstructure:"checksum"`
 	ChecksumType         string   `mapstructure:"checksum_type"`
-	TargetPath           string   `mapstructure:"target_path"`
 	GuestAdditionsMode   string   `mapstructure:"guest_additions_mode"`
 	GuestAdditionsPath   string   `mapstructure:"guest_additions_path"`
-	GuestAdditionsURL    string   `mapstructure:"guest_additions_url"`
 	GuestAdditionsSHA256 string   `mapstructure:"guest_additions_sha256"`
-	VMName               string   `mapstructure:"vm_name"`
-	ImportOpts           string   `mapstructure:"import_opts"`
+	GuestAdditionsURL    string   `mapstructure:"guest_additions_url"`
 	ImportFlags          []string `mapstructure:"import_flags"`
+	ImportOpts           string   `mapstructure:"import_opts"`
+	SourcePath           string   `mapstructure:"source_path"`
+	TargetPath           string   `mapstructure:"target_path"`
+	VMName               string   `mapstructure:"vm_name"`
+	SkipExport           bool     `mapstructure:"skip_export"`
 
 	ctx interpolate.Context
 }
diff --git a/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox-iso.html.md b/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox-iso.html.md
index bad944a7d..debbf6e29 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox-iso.html.md
+++ b/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox-iso.html.md
@@ -271,6 +271,10 @@ builder.
     doesn't shut down in this time, it is an error. By default, the timeout is
     `5m`, or five minutes.
 
+-   `skip_export` (boolean) - Defaults to `false`. When enabled Packer will
+    skip export of the installed virtual machine. Only useful for some edge
+    use cases.
+
 -   `ssh_host_port_min` and `ssh_host_port_max` (integer) - The minimum and
     maximum port to use for the SSH port on the host machine which is forwarded
     to the SSH port on the guest machine. Because Packer often runs in parallel,
diff --git a/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox-ovf.html.md b/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox-ovf.html.md
index 6b0f73ee3..e0f2a5e71 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox-ovf.html.md
+++ b/website/source/docs/builders/virtualbox-ovf.html.md
@@ -229,6 +229,10 @@ builder.
     doesn't shut down in this time, it is an error. By default, the timeout is
     "5m", or five minutes.
 
+-   `skip_export` (boolean) - Defaults to `false`. When enabled Packer will
+    skip export of the installed virtual machine. Only useful for some edge
+    use cases.
+
 -   `ssh_host_port_min` and `ssh_host_port_max` (integer) - The minimum and
     maximum port to use for the SSH port on the host machine which is forwarded
     to the SSH port on the guest machine. Because Packer often runs in parallel,