diff --git a/lib/vagrant/provisioners/chef_server.rb b/lib/vagrant/provisioners/chef_server.rb
index f10c84492..7f7053600 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/provisioners/chef_server.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/provisioners/chef_server.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ module Vagrant
       def prepare
         if env.config.chef.validation_key_path.nil?
           raise Actions::ActionException.new(:chef_server_validation_key_required)
-        elsif !File.file?(env.config.chef.validation_key_path)
+        elsif !File.file?(validation_key_path)
           raise Actions::ActionException.new(:chef_server_validation_key_doesnt_exist)
         end
 
diff --git a/test/vagrant/provisioners/chef_server_test.rb b/test/vagrant/provisioners/chef_server_test.rb
index 200660384..d2008dfab 100644
--- a/test/vagrant/provisioners/chef_server_test.rb
+++ b/test/vagrant/provisioners/chef_server_test.rb
@@ -54,8 +54,9 @@ class ChefServerProvisionerTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
       end
 
       @action.stubs(:env).returns(@env)
+      @action.stubs(:validation_key_path).returns("9")
 
-      File.expects(:file?).with(@env.config.chef.validation_key_path).returns(true)
+      File.expects(:file?).with(@action.validation_key_path).returns(true)
       assert_nothing_raised { @action.prepare }
     end
 
@@ -65,8 +66,9 @@ class ChefServerProvisionerTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
       end
 
       @action.stubs(:env).returns(@env)
+      @action.stubs(:validation_key_path).returns("9")
 
-      File.expects(:file?).with(@env.config.chef.validation_key_path).returns(false)
+      File.expects(:file?).with(@action.validation_key_path).returns(false)
       assert_raises(Vagrant::Actions::ActionException) {
         @action.prepare
       }