diff --git a/lib/vagrant/machine.rb b/lib/vagrant/machine.rb
index 1f2329d91..2ed27db6b 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/machine.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/machine.rb
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ module Vagrant
     # Returns the state of this machine. The state is queried from the
     # backing provider, so it can be any arbitrary symbol.
     #
-    # @return [Symbol]
+    # @return [MachineState]
     def state
       result = @provider.state
       raise Errors::MachineStateInvalid if !result.is_a?(MachineState)
diff --git a/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/command/rsync.rb b/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/command/rsync.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9b7b7fab6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/command/rsync.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+require 'optparse'
+
+require_relative "../helper"
+
+module VagrantPlugins
+  module SyncedFolderRSync
+    module Command
+      class Rsync < Vagrant.plugin("2", :command)
+        def self.synopsis
+          "syncs rsync synced folders to remote machine"
+        end
+
+        def execute
+          opts = OptionParser.new do |o|
+            o.banner = "Usage: vagrant rsync [vm-name]"
+            o.separator ""
+          end
+
+          # Parse the options and return if we don't have any target.
+          argv = parse_options(opts)
+          return if !argv
+
+          # Go through each machine and perform the rsync
+          error = false
+          with_target_vms(argv) do |machine|
+            if !machine.communicate.ready?
+              machine.ui.error(I18n.t("vagrant.rsync_communicator_not_ready"))
+              error = true
+              next
+            end
+          end
+
+          return error ? 1 : 0
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/helper.rb b/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/helper.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3c66fe04c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/helper.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+require "vagrant/util/subprocess"
+
+module VagrantPlugins
+  module SyncedFolderRSync
+    # This is a helper that abstracts out the functionality of rsyncing
+    # folders so that it can be called from anywhere.
+    class RsyncHelper
+      def self.rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, opts)
+        # Folder info
+        guestpath = opts[:guestpath]
+        hostpath  = opts[:hostpath]
+
+        # Connection information
+        username = ssh_info[:username]
+        host     = ssh_info[:host]
+        rsh = [
+          "ssh -p #{ssh_info[:port]} -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no",
+          ssh_info[:private_key_path].map { |p| "-i '#{p}'" },
+        ].flatten.join(" ")
+
+        # Exclude some files by default, and any that might be configured
+        # by the user.
+        excludes = ['.vagrant/']
+        excludes += Array(opts[:exclude]).map(&:to_s) if opts[:exclude]
+        excludes.uniq!
+
+        # Build up the actual command to execute
+        command = [
+          "rsync",
+          "--verbose",
+          "--archive",
+          "-z",
+          excludes.map { |e| ["--exclude", e] },
+          "-e", rsh,
+          hostpath,
+          "#{username}@#{host}:#{guestpath}"
+        ].flatten
+        command_opts = {}
+
+        # The working directory should be the root path
+        command_opts[:workdir] = machine.env.root_path.to_s
+
+        machine.ui.info(I18n.t(
+          "vagrant.rsync_folder", guestpath: guestpath, hostpath: hostpath))
+        if excludes.length > 1
+          machine.ui.info(I18n.t(
+            "vagrant.rsync_folder_excludes", excludes: excludes.inspect))
+        end
+
+        # If we have tasks to do before rsyncing, do those.
+        if machine.guest.capability?(:rsync_pre)
+          machine.guest.capability(:rsync_pre, opts)
+        end
+
+        r = Vagrant::Util::Subprocess.execute(*(command + [command_opts]))
+        if r.exit_code != 0
+          raise Vagrant::Errors::RSyncError,
+            command: command.join(" "),
+            guestpath: guestpath,
+            hostpath: hostpath,
+            stderr: r.stderr
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/plugin.rb b/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/plugin.rb
index d74658c31..a39bccc68 100644
--- a/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/plugin.rb
+++ b/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/plugin.rb
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ module VagrantPlugins
       The Rsync synced folder plugin will sync folders via rsync.
       EOF
 
+      command("rsync", primary: false) do
+        require_relative "command/rsync"
+        Command::Rsync
+      end
+
       synced_folder("rsync", 5) do
         require_relative "synced_folder"
         SyncedFolder
diff --git a/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/synced_folder.rb b/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/synced_folder.rb
index 87413afa9..416a1b06c 100644
--- a/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/synced_folder.rb
+++ b/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/synced_folder.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ require "log4r"
 require "vagrant/util/subprocess"
 require "vagrant/util/which"
 
+require_relative "helper"
+
 module VagrantPlugins
   module SyncedFolderRSync
     class SyncedFolder < Vagrant.plugin("2", :synced_folder)
@@ -33,65 +35,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         end
 
         folders.each do |id, folder_opts|
-          rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, folder_opts)
-        end
-      end
-
-      # rsync_single rsync's a single folder with the given options.
-      def rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, opts)
-        # Folder info
-        guestpath = opts[:guestpath]
-        hostpath  = opts[:hostpath]
-
-        # Connection information
-        username = ssh_info[:username]
-        host     = ssh_info[:host]
-        rsh = [
-          "ssh -p #{ssh_info[:port]} -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no",
-          ssh_info[:private_key_path].map { |p| "-i '#{p}'" },
-        ].flatten.join(" ")
-
-        # Exclude some files by default, and any that might be configured
-        # by the user.
-        excludes = ['.vagrant/']
-        excludes += Array(opts[:exclude]).map(&:to_s) if opts[:exclude]
-        excludes.uniq!
-
-        # Build up the actual command to execute
-        command = [
-          "rsync",
-          "--verbose",
-          "--archive",
-          "-z",
-          excludes.map { |e| ["--exclude", e] },
-          "-e", rsh,
-          hostpath,
-          "#{username}@#{host}:#{guestpath}"
-        ].flatten
-        command_opts = {}
-
-        # The working directory should be the root path
-        command_opts[:workdir] = machine.env.root_path.to_s
-
-        machine.ui.info(I18n.t(
-          "vagrant.rsync_folder", guestpath: guestpath, hostpath: hostpath))
-        if excludes.length > 1
-          machine.ui.info(I18n.t(
-            "vagrant.rsync_folder_excludes", excludes: excludes.inspect))
-        end
-
-        # If we have tasks to do before rsyncing, do those.
-        if machine.guest.capability?(:rsync_pre)
-          machine.guest.capability(:rsync_pre, opts)
-        end
-
-        r = Vagrant::Util::Subprocess.execute(*(command + [command_opts]))
-        if r.exit_code != 0
-          raise Vagrant::Errors::RSyncError,
-            command: command.join(" "),
-            guestpath: guestpath,
-            hostpath: hostpath,
-            stderr: r.stderr
+          RsyncHelper.rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, folder_opts)
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/templates/locales/en.yml b/templates/locales/en.yml
index 0d41d8e23..5eb503e8d 100644
--- a/templates/locales/en.yml
+++ b/templates/locales/en.yml
@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@ en:
       %{names}
     provisioner_cleanup: |-
       Running cleanup tasks for '%{name}' provisioner...
+    rsync_communicator_not_ready: |-
+      The machine is reporting that it is not ready for rsync to
+      communiate with it. Verify that this machine is properly running.
     rsync_folder: |-
       Rsyncing folder: %{hostpath} => %{guestpath}
     rsync_folder_excludes: "  - Exclude: %{excludes}"
diff --git a/test/unit/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/helper_test.rb b/test/unit/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/helper_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f6633b911
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/helper_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+require_relative "../../../base"
+
+require Vagrant.source_root.join("plugins/synced_folders/rsync/helper")
+
+describe VagrantPlugins::SyncedFolderRSync::RsyncHelper do
+  include_context "unit"
+
+  let(:iso_env) do
+    # We have to create a Vagrantfile so there is a root path
+    env = isolated_environment
+    env.vagrantfile("")
+    env.create_vagrant_env
+  end
+
+  let(:guest)   { double("guest") }
+  let(:machine) { iso_env.machine(iso_env.machine_names[0], :dummy) }
+
+  subject { described_class }
+
+  before do
+    machine.stub(guest: guest)
+  end
+
+  describe "#rsync_single" do
+    let(:result) { Vagrant::Util::Subprocess::Result.new(0, "", "") }
+
+    let(:ssh_info) {{
+      private_key_path: [],
+    }}
+    let(:opts)      { {} }
+    let(:ui)        { machine.ui }
+
+    before do
+      Vagrant::Util::Subprocess.stub(execute: result)
+
+      guest.stub(capability?: false)
+    end
+
+    it "doesn't raise an error if it succeeds" do
+      subject.rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, opts)
+    end
+
+    it "raises an error if the exit code is non-zero" do
+      Vagrant::Util::Subprocess.stub(
+        execute: Vagrant::Util::Subprocess::Result.new(1, "", ""))
+
+      expect {subject.rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, opts) }.
+        to raise_error(Vagrant::Errors::RSyncError)
+    end
+
+    it "executes within the root path" do
+      Vagrant::Util::Subprocess.should_receive(:execute).with do |*args|
+        expect(args.last).to be_kind_of(Hash)
+
+        opts = args.last
+        expect(opts[:workdir]).to eql(machine.env.root_path.to_s)
+      end
+
+      subject.rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, opts)
+    end
+
+    it "executes the rsync_pre capability first if it exists" do
+      guest.should_receive(:capability?).with(:rsync_pre).and_return(true)
+      guest.should_receive(:capability).with(:rsync_pre, opts).ordered
+      Vagrant::Util::Subprocess.should_receive(:execute).ordered.and_return(result)
+
+      subject.rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, opts)
+    end
+
+    context "excluding files" do
+      it "excludes files if given as a string" do
+        opts[:exclude] = "foo"
+
+        Vagrant::Util::Subprocess.should_receive(:execute).with do |*args|
+          index = args.find_index("foo")
+          expect(index).to be > 0
+          expect(args[index-1]).to eql("--exclude")
+        end
+
+        subject.rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, opts)
+      end
+
+      it "excludes multiple files" do
+        opts[:exclude] = ["foo", "bar"]
+
+        Vagrant::Util::Subprocess.should_receive(:execute).with do |*args|
+          index = args.find_index("foo")
+          expect(index).to be > 0
+          expect(args[index-1]).to eql("--exclude")
+
+          index = args.find_index("bar")
+          expect(index).to be > 0
+          expect(args[index-1]).to eql("--exclude")
+        end
+
+        subject.rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, opts)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/unit/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/synced_folder_test.rb b/test/unit/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/synced_folder_test.rb
index 0c2aba551..2b7df8781 100644
--- a/test/unit/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/synced_folder_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/plugins/synced_folders/rsync/synced_folder_test.rb
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ describe VagrantPlugins::SyncedFolderRSync::SyncedFolder do
   let(:host)    { double("host") }
   let(:machine) { iso_env.machine(iso_env.machine_names[0], :dummy) }
 
+  let(:helper_class) { VagrantPlugins::SyncedFolderRSync::RsyncHelper }
+
   before do
     machine.env.stub(host: host)
     machine.stub(guest: guest)
@@ -55,7 +57,7 @@ describe VagrantPlugins::SyncedFolderRSync::SyncedFolder do
       ]
 
       folders.each do |_, opts|
-        subject.should_receive(:rsync_single).
+        helper_class.should_receive(:rsync_single).
           with(machine, ssh_info, opts).
           ordered
       end
@@ -63,81 +65,4 @@ describe VagrantPlugins::SyncedFolderRSync::SyncedFolder do
       subject.enable(machine, folders, {})
     end
   end
-
-  describe "#rsync_single" do
-    let(:result) { Vagrant::Util::Subprocess::Result.new(0, "", "") }
-
-    let(:ssh_info) {{
-      private_key_path: [],
-    }}
-    let(:opts)      { {} }
-    let(:ui)        { machine.ui }
-
-    before do
-      Vagrant::Util::Subprocess.stub(execute: result)
-
-      guest.stub(capability?: false)
-    end
-
-    it "doesn't raise an error if it succeeds" do
-      subject.rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, opts)
-    end
-
-    it "raises an error if the exit code is non-zero" do
-      Vagrant::Util::Subprocess.stub(
-        execute: Vagrant::Util::Subprocess::Result.new(1, "", ""))
-
-      expect {subject.rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, opts) }.
-        to raise_error(Vagrant::Errors::RSyncError)
-    end
-
-    it "executes within the root path" do
-      Vagrant::Util::Subprocess.should_receive(:execute).with do |*args|
-        expect(args.last).to be_kind_of(Hash)
-
-        opts = args.last
-        expect(opts[:workdir]).to eql(machine.env.root_path.to_s)
-      end
-
-      subject.rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, opts)
-    end
-
-    it "executes the rsync_pre capability first if it exists" do
-      guest.should_receive(:capability?).with(:rsync_pre).and_return(true)
-      guest.should_receive(:capability).with(:rsync_pre, opts).ordered
-      Vagrant::Util::Subprocess.should_receive(:execute).ordered.and_return(result)
-
-      subject.rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, opts)
-    end
-
-    context "excluding files" do
-      it "excludes files if given as a string" do
-        opts[:exclude] = "foo"
-
-        Vagrant::Util::Subprocess.should_receive(:execute).with do |*args|
-          index = args.find_index("foo")
-          expect(index).to be > 0
-          expect(args[index-1]).to eql("--exclude")
-        end
-
-        subject.rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, opts)
-      end
-
-      it "excludes multiple files" do
-        opts[:exclude] = ["foo", "bar"]
-
-        Vagrant::Util::Subprocess.should_receive(:execute).with do |*args|
-          index = args.find_index("foo")
-          expect(index).to be > 0
-          expect(args[index-1]).to eql("--exclude")
-
-          index = args.find_index("bar")
-          expect(index).to be > 0
-          expect(args[index-1]).to eql("--exclude")
-        end
-
-        subject.rsync_single(machine, ssh_info, opts)
-      end
-    end
-  end
 end