diff --git a/lib/vagrant/environment.rb b/lib/vagrant/environment.rb
index fe71e1ba5..424c19c28 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/environment.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/environment.rb
@@ -166,6 +166,28 @@ module Vagrant
       @vm = nil
     end
 
+    #---------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Methods to persist/unpersist VM
+    #---------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    def persist_vm
+      # Save to the dotfile for this project
+      File.open(dotfile_path, 'w+') do |f|
+        f.write(vm.uuid)
+      end
+
+      # Also add to the global store
+      ActiveList.add(vm)
+    end
+
+    def depersist_vm
+      # Delete the dotfile if it exists
+      File.delete(dotfile_path) if File.exist?(dotfile_path)
+
+      # Remove from the global store
+      ActiveList.remove(vm)
+    end
+
     #---------------------------------------------------------------
     # Methods to check for properties and error
     #---------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/test/vagrant/environment_test.rb b/test/vagrant/environment_test.rb
index 023dc3350..22cf662d6 100644
--- a/test/vagrant/environment_test.rb
+++ b/test/vagrant/environment_test.rb
@@ -428,4 +428,62 @@ class EnvironmentTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
       end
     end
   end
+
+  context "persisting/depersisting VM" do
+    setup do
+      @env = mock_environment
+
+      @dotfile_path = "foo"
+      @env.stubs(:dotfile_path).returns(@dotfile_path)
+
+      @vm = mock("vm")
+      @vm.stubs(:uuid).returns("foo")
+      @env.stubs(:vm).returns(@vm)
+    end
+
+    context "persisting the VM into a file" do
+      setup do
+        File.stubs(:open)
+        Vagrant::ActiveList.stubs(:add)
+      end
+
+      should "should save it to the dotfile path" do
+        filemock = mock("filemock")
+        filemock.expects(:write).with(@vm.uuid)
+        File.expects(:open).with(@env.dotfile_path, 'w+').once.yields(filemock)
+        @env.persist_vm
+      end
+
+      should "add the VM to the activelist" do
+        Vagrant::ActiveList.expects(:add).with(@vm)
+        @env.persist_vm
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "depersisting the VM" do
+      setup do
+        File.stubs(:exist?).returns(false)
+        File.stubs(:delete)
+
+        Vagrant::ActiveList.stubs(:remove)
+      end
+
+      should "remove the dotfile if it exists" do
+        File.expects(:exist?).with(@env.dotfile_path).returns(true)
+        File.expects(:delete).with(@env.dotfile_path).once
+        @env.depersist_vm
+      end
+
+      should "not remove the dotfile if it doesn't exist" do
+        File.expects(:exist?).returns(false)
+        File.expects(:delete).never
+        @env.depersist_vm
+      end
+
+      should "remove from the active list" do
+        Vagrant::ActiveList.expects(:remove).with(@vm)
+        @env.depersist_vm
+      end
+    end
+  end
 end