diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/common/step_export.go b/builder/virtualbox/common/step_export.go
index c17f8cd0b..6967af1fe 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/common/step_export.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/common/step_export.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/mitchellh/packer/packer"
 	"log"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 )
 
@@ -51,9 +52,10 @@ func (s *StepExport) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 		vmName,
 		"--output",
 		outputPath,
-		s.ExportOpts,
 	}
 
+	command = append(command, strings.Fields(s.ExportOpts)...)
+
 	ui.Say("Exporting virtual machine...")
 	err := driver.VBoxManage(command...)
 	if err != nil {