diff --git a/builder/vmware/common/hw_config.go b/builder/vmware/common/hw_config.go
index 69cf55970..7f6b65034 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/common/hw_config.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/hw_config.go
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ import (
 type HWConfig struct {
 
 	// cpu information
-	CpuCount   int `mapstructure:"cpu_count"`
-	MemorySize int `mapstructure:"memory_size"`
+	CpuCount   int `mapstructure:"cpus"`
+	MemorySize int `mapstructure:"memory"`
 
 	// network type and adapter
 	Network            string `mapstructure:"network"`
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func (c *HWConfig) Prepare(ctx *interpolate.Context) []error {
 
 	// Hardware and cpu options
 	if c.CpuCount < 0 {
-		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("An invalid cpu_count was specified (cpu_count < 0): %d", c.CpuCount))
+		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("An invalid number of cpus was specified (cpus < 0): %d", c.CpuCount))
 		c.CpuCount = 0
 	}
 	if c.CpuCount == 0 {
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func (c *HWConfig) Prepare(ctx *interpolate.Context) []error {
 	}
 
 	if c.MemorySize < 0 {
-		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("An invalid memory_size was specified (memory_size < 0): %d", c.MemorySize))
+		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("An invalid amount of memory was specified (memory < 0): %d", c.MemorySize))
 		c.MemorySize = 0
 	}
 	if c.MemorySize == 0 {
diff --git a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md.erb b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md.erb
index 11c1da61b..d0f8f5f13 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md.erb
+++ b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md.erb
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ builder.
     five seconds and one minute 30 seconds, respectively. If this isn't
     specified, the default is `10s` or 10 seconds.
 
--   `cpu_count` (number) - The number of cpus to use when building the VM.
+-   `cpus` (number) - The number of cpus to use when building the VM.
     Defaults to building with just one.
 
 -   `cdrom_adapter_type` (string) - The adapter type (or bus) that will be used
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ builder.
     URLs must point to the same file (same checksum). By default this is empty
     and `iso_url` is used. Only one of `iso_url` or `iso_urls` can be specified.
 
--   `memory_size` (number) - The amount of memory to use when building the VM
+-   `memory` (number) - The amount of memory to use when building the VM
     in megabytes. Defaults to `512` megabytes.
 
 -   `network` (string) - This is the network type that the virtual machine will