diff --git a/builder/amazon/chroot/communicator.go b/builder/amazon/chroot/communicator.go
index 5df123971..ae42ee49f 100644
--- a/builder/amazon/chroot/communicator.go
+++ b/builder/amazon/chroot/communicator.go
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func (c *Communicator) Start(cmd *packer.RemoteCmd) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (c *Communicator) Upload(dst string, r io.Reader) error {
+func (c *Communicator) Upload(dst string, r io.Reader, fi *os.FileInfo) error {
 	dst = filepath.Join(c.Chroot, dst)
 	log.Printf("Uploading to chroot dir: %s", dst)
 	tf, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "packer-amazon-chroot")
diff --git a/builder/amazon/instance/step_upload_x509_cert.go b/builder/amazon/instance/step_upload_x509_cert.go
index d62ea8797..ee24cff98 100644
--- a/builder/amazon/instance/step_upload_x509_cert.go
+++ b/builder/amazon/instance/step_upload_x509_cert.go
@@ -45,5 +45,5 @@ func (s *StepUploadX509Cert) uploadSingle(comm packer.Communicator, dst, src str
 	}
 	defer f.Close()
 
-	return comm.Upload(dst, f)
+	return comm.Upload(dst, f, nil)
 }
diff --git a/builder/docker/communicator.go b/builder/docker/communicator.go
index 2cf538f4f..d5f0eb713 100644
--- a/builder/docker/communicator.go
+++ b/builder/docker/communicator.go
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func (c *Communicator) Start(remote *packer.RemoteCmd) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (c *Communicator) Upload(dst string, src io.Reader) error {
+func (c *Communicator) Upload(dst string, src io.Reader, fi *os.FileInfo) error {
 	// Create a temporary file to store the upload
 	tempfile, err := ioutil.TempFile(c.HostDir, "upload")
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/builder/parallels/common/step_upload_parallels_tools.go b/builder/parallels/common/step_upload_parallels_tools.go
index 9c421a22b..ae511a1e8 100644
--- a/builder/parallels/common/step_upload_parallels_tools.go
+++ b/builder/parallels/common/step_upload_parallels_tools.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func (s *StepUploadParallelsTools) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepA
 
 	ui.Say(fmt.Sprintf("Uploading Parallels Tools for '%s' to path: '%s'",
 		s.ParallelsToolsFlavor, s.ParallelsToolsGuestPath))
-	if err := comm.Upload(s.ParallelsToolsGuestPath, f); err != nil {
+	if err := comm.Upload(s.ParallelsToolsGuestPath, f, nil); err != nil {
 		err := fmt.Errorf("Error uploading Parallels Tools: %s", err)
 		state.Put("error", err)
 		ui.Error(err.Error())
diff --git a/builder/parallels/common/step_upload_version.go b/builder/parallels/common/step_upload_version.go
index f5e03c4f5..8bf5aa7dc 100644
--- a/builder/parallels/common/step_upload_version.go
+++ b/builder/parallels/common/step_upload_version.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func (s *StepUploadVersion) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 	ui.Say(fmt.Sprintf("Uploading Parallels version info (%s)", version))
 	var data bytes.Buffer
 	data.WriteString(version)
-	if err := comm.Upload(s.Path, &data); err != nil {
+	if err := comm.Upload(s.Path, &data, nil); err != nil {
 		state.Put("error", fmt.Errorf("Error uploading Parallels version: %s", err))
 		return multistep.ActionHalt
 	}
diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/common/step_upload_guest_additions.go b/builder/virtualbox/common/step_upload_guest_additions.go
index 5e8b6a86c..04d2dc7cc 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/common/step_upload_guest_additions.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/common/step_upload_guest_additions.go
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func (s *StepUploadGuestAdditions) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepA
 	}
 
 	ui.Say("Uploading VirtualBox guest additions ISO...")
-	if err := comm.Upload(s.GuestAdditionsPath, f); err != nil {
+	if err := comm.Upload(s.GuestAdditionsPath, f, nil); err != nil {
 		state.Put("error", fmt.Errorf("Error uploading guest additions: %s", err))
 		return multistep.ActionHalt
 	}
diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/common/step_upload_version.go b/builder/virtualbox/common/step_upload_version.go
index 1bfd526a6..02566c8cb 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/common/step_upload_version.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/common/step_upload_version.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func (s *StepUploadVersion) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 	ui.Say(fmt.Sprintf("Uploading VirtualBox version info (%s)", version))
 	var data bytes.Buffer
 	data.WriteString(version)
-	if err := comm.Upload(s.Path, &data); err != nil {
+	if err := comm.Upload(s.Path, &data, nil); err != nil {
 		state.Put("error", fmt.Errorf("Error uploading VirtualBox version: %s", err))
 		return multistep.ActionHalt
 	}
diff --git a/builder/vmware/common/step_upload_tools.go b/builder/vmware/common/step_upload_tools.go
index b714a3dc4..03387a13f 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/common/step_upload_tools.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/step_upload_tools.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func (c *StepUploadTools) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 		return multistep.ActionHalt
 	}
 
-	if err := comm.Upload(c.ToolsUploadPath, f); err != nil {
+	if err := comm.Upload(c.ToolsUploadPath, f, nil); err != nil {
 		err := fmt.Errorf("Error uploading VMware Tools: %s", err)
 		state.Put("error", err)
 		ui.Error(err.Error())
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/driver_esx5.go b/builder/vmware/iso/driver_esx5.go
index 211bc119e..6f35f5272 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/driver_esx5.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/driver_esx5.go
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ func (d *ESX5Driver) upload(dst, src string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 	defer f.Close()
-	return d.comm.Upload(dst, f)
+	return d.comm.Upload(dst, f, nil)
 }
 
 func (d *ESX5Driver) verifyChecksum(ctype string, hash string, file string) bool {
diff --git a/communicator/ssh/communicator.go b/communicator/ssh/communicator.go
index e07f875c6..0b48eeb29 100644
--- a/communicator/ssh/communicator.go
+++ b/communicator/ssh/communicator.go
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ func (c *comm) Start(cmd *packer.RemoteCmd) (err error) {
 	return
 }
 
-func (c *comm) Upload(path string, input io.Reader) error {
+func (c *comm) Upload(path string, input io.Reader, fi *os.FileInfo) error {
 	// The target directory and file for talking the SCP protocol
 	target_dir := filepath.Dir(path)
 	target_file := filepath.Base(path)
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func (c *comm) Upload(path string, input io.Reader) error {
 	target_dir = filepath.ToSlash(target_dir)
 
 	scpFunc := func(w io.Writer, stdoutR *bufio.Reader) error {
-		return scpUploadFile(target_file, input, w, stdoutR)
+		return scpUploadFile(target_file, input, w, stdoutR, fi)
 	}
 
 	return c.scpSession("scp -vt "+target_dir, scpFunc)
@@ -156,7 +156,11 @@ func (c *comm) UploadDir(dst string, src string, excl []string) error {
 
 		if src[len(src)-1] != '/' {
 			log.Printf("No trailing slash, creating the source directory name")
-			return scpUploadDirProtocol(filepath.Base(src), w, r, uploadEntries)
+			fi, err := os.Stat(src)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			return scpUploadDirProtocol(filepath.Base(src), w, r, uploadEntries, fi)
 		} else {
 			// Trailing slash, so only upload the contents
 			return uploadEntries()
@@ -328,7 +332,7 @@ func checkSCPStatus(r *bufio.Reader) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func scpUploadFile(dst string, src io.Reader, w io.Writer, r *bufio.Reader) error {
+func scpUploadFile(dst string, src io.Reader, w io.Writer, r *bufio.Reader, fi *os.FileInfo) error {
 	// Create a temporary file where we can copy the contents of the src
 	// so that we can determine the length, since SCP is length-prefixed.
 	tf, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "packer-upload")
@@ -338,30 +342,45 @@ func scpUploadFile(dst string, src io.Reader, w io.Writer, r *bufio.Reader) erro
 	defer os.Remove(tf.Name())
 	defer tf.Close()
 
-	log.Println("Copying input data into temporary file so we can read the length")
-	if _, err := io.Copy(tf, src); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	var mode os.FileMode
+	var size int64
 
-	// Sync the file so that the contents are definitely on disk, then
-	// read the length of it.
-	if err := tf.Sync(); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Error creating temporary file for upload: %s", err)
-	}
+	if fi != nil {
+		mode = (*fi).Mode().Perm()
+		size = (*fi).Size()
+	} else {
+		mode = 0644
 
-	// Seek the file to the beginning so we can re-read all of it
-	if _, err := tf.Seek(0, 0); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Error creating temporary file for upload: %s", err)
-	}
+		log.Println("Copying input data into temporary file so we can read the length")
+		if _, err := io.Copy(tf, src); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 
-	fi, err := tf.Stat()
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Error creating temporary file for upload: %s", err)
+		// Sync the file so that the contents are definitely on disk, then
+		// read the length of it.
+		if err := tf.Sync(); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Error creating temporary file for upload: %s", err)
+		}
+
+		// Seek the file to the beginning so we can re-read all of it
+		if _, err := tf.Seek(0, 0); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Error creating temporary file for upload: %s", err)
+		}
+
+		tfi, err := tf.Stat()
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Error creating temporary file for upload: %s", err)
+		}
+
+		size = tfi.Size()
 	}
 
 	// Start the protocol
 	log.Println("Beginning file upload...")
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "C0644", fi.Size(), dst)
+
+	perms := fmt.Sprintf("C%04o", mode)
+
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, perms, size, dst)
 	if err := checkSCPStatus(r); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -378,9 +397,14 @@ func scpUploadFile(dst string, src io.Reader, w io.Writer, r *bufio.Reader) erro
 	return nil
 }
 
-func scpUploadDirProtocol(name string, w io.Writer, r *bufio.Reader, f func() error) error {
+func scpUploadDirProtocol(name string, w io.Writer, r *bufio.Reader, f func() error, fi os.FileInfo) error {
 	log.Printf("SCP: starting directory upload: %s", name)
-	fmt.Fprintln(w, "D0755 0", name)
+
+	mode := fi.Mode().Perm()
+
+	perms := fmt.Sprintf("D%04o 0", mode)
+
+	fmt.Fprintln(w, perms, name)
 	err := checkSCPStatus(r)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -430,7 +454,7 @@ func scpUploadDir(root string, fs []os.FileInfo, w io.Writer, r *bufio.Reader) e
 
 			err = func() error {
 				defer f.Close()
-				return scpUploadFile(fi.Name(), f, w, r)
+				return scpUploadFile(fi.Name(), f, w, r, &fi)
 			}()
 
 			if err != nil {
@@ -454,7 +478,7 @@ func scpUploadDir(root string, fs []os.FileInfo, w io.Writer, r *bufio.Reader) e
 			}
 
 			return scpUploadDir(realPath, entries, w, r)
-		})
+		}, fi)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/packer/communicator.go b/packer/communicator.go
index 159e5e380..448e4aacf 100644
--- a/packer/communicator.go
+++ b/packer/communicator.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package packer
 import (
 	"github.com/mitchellh/iochan"
 	"io"
+	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 )
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ type Communicator interface {
 	// Upload uploads a file to the machine to the given path with the
 	// contents coming from the given reader. This method will block until
 	// it completes.
-	Upload(string, io.Reader) error
+	Upload(string, io.Reader, *os.FileInfo) error
 
 	// UploadDir uploads the contents of a directory recursively to
 	// the remote path. It also takes an optional slice of paths to
diff --git a/packer/communicator_mock.go b/packer/communicator_mock.go
index 30539f6f1..048fc3c3b 100644
--- a/packer/communicator_mock.go
+++ b/packer/communicator_mock.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package packer
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"io"
+	"os"
 	"sync"
 )
 
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ func (c *MockCommunicator) Start(rc *RemoteCmd) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (c *MockCommunicator) Upload(path string, r io.Reader) error {
+func (c *MockCommunicator) Upload(path string, r io.Reader, fi *os.FileInfo) error {
 	c.UploadCalled = true
 	c.UploadPath = path
 
diff --git a/packer/rpc/communicator.go b/packer/rpc/communicator.go
index e1d6cb649..abf841af8 100644
--- a/packer/rpc/communicator.go
+++ b/packer/rpc/communicator.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"log"
 	"net/rpc"
+	"os"
 )
 
 // An implementation of packer.Communicator where the communicator is actually
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ func (c *communicator) Start(cmd *packer.RemoteCmd) (err error) {
 	return
 }
 
-func (c *communicator) Upload(path string, r io.Reader) (err error) {
+func (c *communicator) Upload(path string, r io.Reader, fi *os.FileInfo) (err error) {
 	// Pipe the reader through to the connection
 	streamId := c.mux.NextId()
 	go serveSingleCopy("uploadData", c.mux, streamId, nil, r)
@@ -233,7 +234,7 @@ func (c *CommunicatorServer) Upload(args *CommunicatorUploadArgs, reply *interfa
 	}
 	defer readerC.Close()
 
-	err = c.c.Upload(args.Path, readerC)
+	err = c.c.Upload(args.Path, readerC, nil)
 	return
 }
 
diff --git a/packer/rpc/communicator_test.go b/packer/rpc/communicator_test.go
index ca8239514..0e517aec9 100644
--- a/packer/rpc/communicator_test.go
+++ b/packer/rpc/communicator_test.go
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ func TestCommunicatorRPC(t *testing.T) {
 		defer uploadW.Close()
 		uploadW.Write([]byte("uploadfoo\n"))
 	}()
-	err = remote.Upload("foo", uploadR)
+	err = remote.Upload("foo", uploadR, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
 	}
diff --git a/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner.go b/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner.go
index 904abc57a..3188b625f 100644
--- a/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner.go
+++ b/provisioner/ansible-local/provisioner.go
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ func (p *Provisioner) uploadFile(ui packer.Ui, comm packer.Communicator, dst, sr
 	}
 	defer f.Close()
 
-	if err = comm.Upload(dst, f); err != nil {
+	if err = comm.Upload(dst, f, nil); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Error uploading %s: %s", src, err)
 	}
 	return nil
diff --git a/provisioner/chef-client/provisioner.go b/provisioner/chef-client/provisioner.go
index aba777e27..eff38dcb9 100644
--- a/provisioner/chef-client/provisioner.go
+++ b/provisioner/chef-client/provisioner.go
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ func (p *Provisioner) createConfig(ui packer.Ui, comm packer.Communicator, nodeN
 	}
 
 	remotePath := filepath.ToSlash(filepath.Join(p.config.StagingDir, "client.rb"))
-	if err := comm.Upload(remotePath, bytes.NewReader([]byte(configString))); err != nil {
+	if err := comm.Upload(remotePath, bytes.NewReader([]byte(configString)), nil); err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ func (p *Provisioner) createJson(ui packer.Ui, comm packer.Communicator) (string
 
 	// Upload the bytes
 	remotePath := filepath.ToSlash(filepath.Join(p.config.StagingDir, "first-boot.json"))
-	if err := comm.Upload(remotePath, bytes.NewReader(jsonBytes)); err != nil {
+	if err := comm.Upload(remotePath, bytes.NewReader(jsonBytes), nil); err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ func (p *Provisioner) copyValidationKey(ui packer.Ui, comm packer.Communicator,
 	}
 	defer f.Close()
 
-	if err := comm.Upload(remotePath, f); err != nil {
+	if err := comm.Upload(remotePath, f, nil); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
diff --git a/provisioner/chef-solo/provisioner.go b/provisioner/chef-solo/provisioner.go
index 2166a9d0c..3ee0e74c7 100644
--- a/provisioner/chef-solo/provisioner.go
+++ b/provisioner/chef-solo/provisioner.go
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ func (p *Provisioner) uploadFile(ui packer.Ui, comm packer.Communicator, dst str
 	}
 	defer f.Close()
 
-	return comm.Upload(dst, f)
+	return comm.Upload(dst, f, nil)
 }
 
 func (p *Provisioner) createConfig(ui packer.Ui, comm packer.Communicator, localCookbooks []string, rolesPath string, dataBagsPath string, encryptedDataBagSecretPath string, environmentsPath string, chefEnvironment string) (string, error) {
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ func (p *Provisioner) createConfig(ui packer.Ui, comm packer.Communicator, local
 	}
 
 	remotePath := filepath.ToSlash(filepath.Join(p.config.StagingDir, "solo.rb"))
-	if err := comm.Upload(remotePath, bytes.NewReader([]byte(configString))); err != nil {
+	if err := comm.Upload(remotePath, bytes.NewReader([]byte(configString)), nil); err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ func (p *Provisioner) createJson(ui packer.Ui, comm packer.Communicator) (string
 
 	// Upload the bytes
 	remotePath := filepath.ToSlash(filepath.Join(p.config.StagingDir, "node.json"))
-	if err := comm.Upload(remotePath, bytes.NewReader(jsonBytes)); err != nil {
+	if err := comm.Upload(remotePath, bytes.NewReader(jsonBytes), nil); err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
diff --git a/provisioner/file/provisioner.go b/provisioner/file/provisioner.go
index c20cbd0f2..1cb69acd4 100644
--- a/provisioner/file/provisioner.go
+++ b/provisioner/file/provisioner.go
@@ -89,7 +89,12 @@ func (p *Provisioner) Provision(ui packer.Ui, comm packer.Communicator) error {
 	}
 	defer f.Close()
 
-	err = comm.Upload(p.config.Destination, f)
+	fi, err := f.Stat()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	err = comm.Upload(p.config.Destination, f, &fi)
 	if err != nil {
 		ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Upload failed: %s", err))
 	}
diff --git a/provisioner/puppet-masterless/provisioner.go b/provisioner/puppet-masterless/provisioner.go
index a290948fd..81ab34afa 100644
--- a/provisioner/puppet-masterless/provisioner.go
+++ b/provisioner/puppet-masterless/provisioner.go
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ func (p *Provisioner) uploadHieraConfig(ui packer.Ui, comm packer.Communicator)
 	defer f.Close()
 
 	path := fmt.Sprintf("%s/hiera.yaml", p.config.StagingDir)
-	if err := comm.Upload(path, f); err != nil {
+	if err := comm.Upload(path, f, nil); err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ func (p *Provisioner) uploadManifests(ui packer.Ui, comm packer.Communicator) (s
 
 	manifestFilename := filepath.Base(p.config.ManifestFile)
 	remoteManifestFile := fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", remoteManifestsPath, manifestFilename)
-	if err := comm.Upload(remoteManifestFile, f); err != nil {
+	if err := comm.Upload(remoteManifestFile, f, nil); err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
diff --git a/provisioner/salt-masterless/provisioner.go b/provisioner/salt-masterless/provisioner.go
index d13ca1f84..fdf9491a5 100644
--- a/provisioner/salt-masterless/provisioner.go
+++ b/provisioner/salt-masterless/provisioner.go
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ func uploadMinionConfig(comm packer.Communicator, dst string, src string) error
 	}
 	defer f.Close()
 
-	if err = comm.Upload(dst, f); err != nil {
+	if err = comm.Upload(dst, f, nil); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Error uploading minion config: %s", err)
 	}
 
diff --git a/provisioner/shell/provisioner.go b/provisioner/shell/provisioner.go
index a5ec2e2bb..679b18100 100644
--- a/provisioner/shell/provisioner.go
+++ b/provisioner/shell/provisioner.go
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ func (p *Provisioner) Provision(ui packer.Ui, comm packer.Communicator) error {
 				r = &UnixReader{Reader: r}
 			}
 
-			if err := comm.Upload(p.config.RemotePath, r); err != nil {
+			if err := comm.Upload(p.config.RemotePath, r, nil); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("Error uploading script: %s", err)
 			}