diff --git a/bin/vagrant-init b/bin/vagrant-init
index bd2ae9791..22e11348f 100755
--- a/bin/vagrant-init
+++ b/bin/vagrant-init
@@ -22,6 +22,6 @@ Creates the initial files required for using vagrant.
 EOS
 
   run do |command|
-    Vagrant::Commands.init
+    Vagrant::Commands.init(command.argv[0])
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/vagrant.rb b/lib/vagrant.rb
index f58f77a5c..fbee248f8 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ PROJECT_ROOT = File.join(libdir, '..') unless defined?(PROJECT_ROOT)
 
 # The libs which must be loaded prior to the rest
 %w{tempfile open-uri json pathname logger uri net/http virtualbox net/ssh archive/tar/minitar
-  net/scp fileutils ostruct}.each do |lib|
+  net/scp fileutils ostruct erb}.each do |lib|
   require lib
 end
 
diff --git a/lib/vagrant/commands.rb b/lib/vagrant/commands.rb
index 044dc96cf..23dc8264f 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/commands.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/commands.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ module Vagrant
       # initial `Vagrantfile` into the current working directory so you can
       # begin using vagrant. The configuration file contains some documentation
       # to get you started.
-      def init
+      def init(default_box=nil)
         rootfile_path = File.join(Dir.pwd, Env::ROOTFILE_NAME)
         if File.exist?(rootfile_path)
           error_and_exit(<<-error)
@@ -21,7 +21,10 @@ error
         end
 
         # Copy over the rootfile template into this directory
-        FileUtils.cp(File.join(PROJECT_ROOT, "templates", Env::ROOTFILE_NAME), rootfile_path)
+        default_box ||= "base"
+        File.open(rootfile_path, 'w+') do |f|
+          f.write(TemplateRenderer.render!(Env::ROOTFILE_NAME, :default_box => default_box))
+        end
       end
 
       # Outputs the status of the current environment. This command outputs
diff --git a/templates/Vagrantfile b/templates/Vagrantfile.erb
similarity index 63%
rename from templates/Vagrantfile
rename to templates/Vagrantfile.erb
index 94bdc8606..126f28526 100644
--- a/templates/Vagrantfile
+++ b/templates/Vagrantfile.erb
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 Vagrant::Config.run do |config|
   # All Vagrant configuration is done here. For a detailed explanation
-  # and listing of configuration options, please check the documentation
+  # and listing of configuration options, please view the documentation
   # online.
 
   # Every Vagrant virtual environment requires a box to build off of.
-  config.vm.box = "base"
+  config.vm.box = "<%= default_box %>"
 end
diff --git a/test/vagrant/commands_test.rb b/test/vagrant/commands_test.rb
index 446f8977f..3bfc588ce 100644
--- a/test/vagrant/commands_test.rb
+++ b/test/vagrant/commands_test.rb
@@ -12,9 +12,12 @@ class CommandsTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
 
   context "init" do
     setup do
-      FileUtils.stubs(:cp)
+      @file = mock("file")
+      @file.stubs(:write)
+      File.stubs(:open).yields(@file)
       @rootfile_path = File.join(Dir.pwd, Vagrant::Env::ROOTFILE_NAME)
-      @template_path = File.join(PROJECT_ROOT, "templates", Vagrant::Env::ROOTFILE_NAME)
+
+      Vagrant::TemplateRenderer.stubs(:render!)
     end
 
     should "error and exit if a rootfile already exists" do
@@ -23,9 +26,23 @@ class CommandsTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
       Vagrant::Commands.init
     end
 
-    should "copy the templated rootfile to the current path" do
-      File.expects(:exist?).with(@rootfile_path).returns(false)
-      FileUtils.expects(:cp).with(@template_path, @rootfile_path).once
+    should "write to the rootfile path using the template renderer" do
+      result = "foo"
+      Vagrant::TemplateRenderer.expects(:render!).returns(result).once
+      @file.expects(:write).with(result).once
+      File.expects(:open).with(@rootfile_path, 'w+').yields(@file)
+
+      Vagrant::Commands.init
+    end
+
+    should "use the given base box if given" do
+      box = "zooo"
+      Vagrant::TemplateRenderer.expects(:render!).with(Vagrant::Env::ROOTFILE_NAME, :default_box => box)
+      Vagrant::Commands.init(box)
+    end
+
+    should "use the default `base` if no box is given" do
+      Vagrant::TemplateRenderer.expects(:render!).with(Vagrant::Env::ROOTFILE_NAME, :default_box => "base")
       Vagrant::Commands.init
     end
   end