diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/chef_solo.rb b/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/chef_solo.rb
index 552af423b..54e6e800f 100644
--- a/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/chef_solo.rb
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/chef/config/chef_solo.rb
@@ -12,29 +12,28 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         attr_accessor :encrypted_data_bag_secret_key_path
         attr_accessor :encrypted_data_bag_secret
 
-        def encrypted_data_bag_secret; @encrypted_data_bag_secret || "/tmp/encrypted_data_bag_secret"; end
-
         def initialize
           super
 
-          @__default = ["cookbooks", [:vm, "cookbooks"]]
+          @cookbooks_path            = UNSET_VALUE
+          @encrypted_data_bag_secret = UNSET_VALUE
+          @nfs                       = UNSET_VALUE
         end
 
-        # Provide defaults in such a way that they won't override the instance
-        # variable. This is so merging continues to work properly.
-        def cookbooks_path
-          @cookbooks_path || _default_cookbook_path
-        end
+        def finalize!
+          if @cookbooks_path == UNSET_VALUE
+            @cookbooks_path = [[:host, "cookbooks"], [:vm, "cookbooks"]]
+          end
 
-        # This stores a reference to the default cookbook path which is used
-        # later. Do not use this publicly. I apologize for not making it
-        # "protected" but it has to be called by Vagrant internals later.
-        def _default_cookbook_path
-          @__default
-        end
+          # Make sure all the paths are the proper format
+          @cookbooks_path.map! do |path|
+            path = [:host, path] if !path.is_a?(Array)
+            path
+          end
 
-        def nfs
-          @nfs || false
+          @encrypted_data_bag_secret = "/tmp/encrypted_data_bag_secret" if \
+            @encrypted_data_bag_secret == UNSET_VALUE
+          @nfs = false if @nfs == UNSET_VALUE
         end
 
         def validate(machine)
@@ -44,6 +43,16 @@ module VagrantPlugins
           errors << I18n.t("vagrant.config.chef.run_list_empty") if \
             !run_list || run_list.empty?
 
+          @cookbooks_path.each do |type, path|
+            next if type != :host
+            expanded_path = File.expand_path(path, machine.env.root_path)
+
+            if !File.exist?(expanded_path)
+              errors << I18n.t("vagrant.config.chef.cookbooks_path_missing",
+                              :path => expanded_path)
+            end
+          end
+
           { "chef solo provisioner" => errors }
         end
       end
diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_solo.rb b/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_solo.rb
index ccb9a52d2..d08b6e46d 100644
--- a/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_solo.rb
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/chef/provisioner/chef_solo.rb
@@ -62,10 +62,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
           paths = [paths] if paths.is_a?(String) || paths.first.is_a?(Symbol)
 
           results = []
-          paths.each do |path|
-            path = [:host, path] if !path.is_a?(Array)
-            type, path = path
-
+          paths.each do |type, path|
             # Create the local/remote path based on whether this is a host
             # or VM path.
             local_path = nil
@@ -74,14 +71,6 @@ module VagrantPlugins
               # Get the expanded path that the host path points to
               local_path = File.expand_path(path, @machine.env.root_path)
 
-              # Super hacky but if we're expanded the default cookbook paths,
-              # and one of the host paths doesn't exist, then just ignore it,
-              # because that is fine.
-              if paths.equal?(@config._default_cookbook_path) && !File.directory?(local_path)
-                @logger.info("'cookbooks' folder doesn't exist on defaults. Ignoring.")
-                next
-              end
-
               # Path exists on the host, setup the remote path
               remote_path = "#{@config.provisioning_path}/chef-solo-#{get_and_update_counter(:cookbooks_path)}"
             else
diff --git a/templates/locales/en.yml b/templates/locales/en.yml
index 268c1c295..8c0263c7e 100644
--- a/templates/locales/en.yml
+++ b/templates/locales/en.yml
@@ -377,6 +377,8 @@ en:
         error_empty: "`%{field}` must be not be empty."
       chef:
         cookbooks_path_empty: "Must specify a cookbooks path for chef solo."
+        cookbooks_path_missing: |-
+          Cookbook path doesn't exist: %{path}
         run_list_empty: "Run list must not be empty."
         server_url_empty: "Chef server URL must be populated."
         validation_key_path: "Validation key path must be valid path to your chef server validation key."