diff --git a/builder/vmware/host_ip.go b/builder/vmware/host_ip.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..90fc9a6fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/builder/vmware/host_ip.go
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package vmware
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"errors"
+	"os/exec"
+	"regexp"
+)
+
+// Interface to help find the host IP that is available from within
+// the VMware virtual machines.
+type HostIPFinder interface {
+	HostIP() (string, error)
+}
+
+// IfconfigIPFinder finds the host IP based on the output of `ifconfig`.
+type IfconfigIPFinder struct {
+	Device string
+}
+
+func (f *IfconfigIPFinder) HostIP() (string, error) {
+	ifconfigPath, err := exec.LookPath("ifconfig")
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	stdout := new(bytes.Buffer)
+
+	cmd := exec.Command(ifconfigPath, f.Device)
+	cmd.Stdout = stdout
+	cmd.Stderr = new(bytes.Buffer)
+	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	re := regexp.MustCompile(`inet\s*(.+?)\s`)
+	matches := re.FindStringSubmatch(stdout.String())
+	if matches == nil {
+		return "", errors.New("IP not found in ifconfig output...")
+	}
+
+	return matches[1], nil
+}
diff --git a/builder/vmware/host_ip_test.go b/builder/vmware/host_ip_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0f3d9266e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/builder/vmware/host_ip_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package vmware
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestIfconfigIPFinder_Impl(t *testing.T) {
+	var raw interface{}
+	raw = &IfconfigIPFinder{}
+	if _, ok := raw.(HostIPFinder); !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("IfconfigIPFinder is not a host IP finder")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/builder/vmware/step_type_boot_command.go b/builder/vmware/step_type_boot_command.go
index b4bba8cc4..e340ae4d6 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/step_type_boot_command.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/step_type_boot_command.go
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ func (s *stepTypeBootCommand) Run(state map[string]interface{}) multistep.StepAc
 	ui := state["ui"].(packer.Ui)
 	vncPort := state["vnc_port"].(uint)
 
+	// Connect to VNC
 	ui.Say("Connecting to VM via VNC")
 	nc, err := net.Dial("tcp", fmt.Sprintf("127.0.0.1:%d", vncPort))
 	if err != nil {
@@ -58,8 +59,16 @@ func (s *stepTypeBootCommand) Run(state map[string]interface{}) multistep.StepAc
 
 	log.Printf("Connected to VNC desktop: %s", c.DesktopName)
 
+	// Determine the host IP
+	ipFinder := &IfconfigIPFinder{"vmnet8"}
+	hostIp, err := ipFinder.HostIP()
+	if err != nil {
+		ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error detecting host IP: %s", err))
+		return multistep.ActionHalt
+	}
+
 	tplData := &bootCommandTemplateData{
-		"127.0.0.1",
+		hostIp,
 		httpPort,
 		config.VMName,
 	}
diff --git a/builder/vmware/step_wait_for_ip.go b/builder/vmware/step_wait_for_ip.go
index 24a4b10c5..e5fe5aa93 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/step_wait_for_ip.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/step_wait_for_ip.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ func (stepWaitForIP) Run(state map[string]interface{}) multistep.StepAction {
 	ui := state["ui"].(packer.Ui)
 
 	ui.Say("Waiting for SSH to become available...")
-	select{}
+	select {}
 
 	return multistep.ActionContinue
 }