diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go b/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
index 06884ad89..2fb24b90d 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
@@ -334,6 +334,10 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 		&common.StepCreateFloppy{
 			Files: b.config.FloppyFiles,
 		},
+		&stepRemoteUpload{
+			Key:     "floppy_path",
+			Message: "Uploading Floppy to remote machine...",
+		},
 		&stepRemoteUpload{
 			Key:     "iso_path",
 			Message: "Uploading ISO to remote machine...",
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/driver_esx5.go b/builder/vmware/iso/driver_esx5.go
index c99376a66..2e9375859 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/driver_esx5.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/driver_esx5.go
@@ -260,6 +260,9 @@ func (d *ESX5Driver) String() string {
 }
 
 func (d *ESX5Driver) datastorePath(path string) string {
+	if filepath.IsAbs(path) {
+		return filepath.Join("/vmfs/volumes", d.Datastore, strings.Replace(path, "/", "", 1))
+	}
 	return filepath.Join("/vmfs/volumes", d.Datastore, path)
 }
 
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/step_remote_upload.go b/builder/vmware/iso/step_remote_upload.go
index 717b3dc13..e739196ab 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/step_remote_upload.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/step_remote_upload.go
@@ -24,8 +24,12 @@ func (s *stepRemoteUpload) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 		return multistep.ActionContinue
 	}
 
+	path, ok := state.Get(s.Key).(string)
+	if !ok {
+		return multistep.ActionContinue
+	}
+
 	ui.Say(s.Message)
-	path := state.Get(s.Key).(string)
 	log.Printf("Remote uploading: %s", path)
 	newPath, err := remote.UploadISO(path)
 	if err != nil {