diff --git a/config/default.rb b/config/default.rb
index 17b95a3a0..9c9009943 100644
--- a/config/default.rb
+++ b/config/default.rb
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ Vagrant::Config.run do |config|
   config.vm.provisioner = nil
   config.vm.shared_folder_uid = nil
   config.vm.shared_folder_gid = nil
+  config.vm.boot_mode = "vrdp"
 
   config.package.name = 'vagrant'
   config.package.extension = '.box'
diff --git a/lib/vagrant/actions/vm/boot.rb b/lib/vagrant/actions/vm/boot.rb
index 668860b81..8f7b90459 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/actions/vm/boot.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/actions/vm/boot.rb
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ module Vagrant
 
         def boot
           logger.info "Booting VM..."
-          @runner.vm.start("vrdp")
+          @runner.vm.start(@runner.env.config.vm.boot_mode)
         end
 
         def wait_for_boot(sleeptime=5)
diff --git a/lib/vagrant/config.rb b/lib/vagrant/config.rb
index b5028e1d8..21b106c6a 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/config.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/config.rb
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ module Vagrant
       attr_accessor :box
       attr_accessor :box_ovf
       attr_accessor :base_mac
+      attr_accessor :boot_mode
       attr_accessor :project_directory
       attr_reader :forwarded_ports
       attr_reader :shared_folders
diff --git a/test/vagrant/actions/vm/boot_test.rb b/test/vagrant/actions/vm/boot_test.rb
index 9ef61e7b2..402c6f66f 100644
--- a/test/vagrant/actions/vm/boot_test.rb
+++ b/test/vagrant/actions/vm/boot_test.rb
@@ -32,8 +32,10 @@ class BootActionTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
   end
 
   context "booting" do
-    should "start the VM in headless mode" do
-      @vm.expects(:start).with("vrdp").once
+    should "start the VM in specified mode" do
+      mode = mock("boot_mode")
+      @runner.env.config.vm.boot_mode = mode
+      @vm.expects(:start).with(mode).once
       @action.boot
     end
   end