diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/builder.go b/builder/virtualbox/builder.go
index 5754a8b8f..af6ffd35a 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/builder.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/builder.go
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) error {
 		if _, err := os.Stat(b.config.OutputDir); err == nil {
 			errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(
 				errs,
-				errors.New("Output directory already exists. It must not exist."))
+				fmt.Errorf("Output directory '%s' already exists. It must not exist.", b.config.OutputDir))
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/builder/vmware/builder.go b/builder/vmware/builder.go
index e43e2cd62..d2e2ba3ed 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/builder.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/builder.go
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) error {
 		if _, err := os.Stat(b.config.OutputDir); err == nil {
 			errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(
 				errs,
-				errors.New("Output directory already exists. It must not exist."))
+				fmt.Errorf("Output directory '%s' already exists. It must not exist.", b.config.OutputDir))
 		}
 	}