diff --git a/lib/vagrant/commands/ssh.rb b/lib/vagrant/commands/ssh.rb
index 9a01edb26..3a8c6d243 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/commands/ssh.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/commands/ssh.rb
@@ -16,11 +16,13 @@ module Vagrant
 
       def ssh_connect(name)
         if name.nil? && env.multivm?
-          error_and_exit(:ssh_multivm)
-          return # for tests
+          if env.primary_vm.nil?
+            error_and_exit(:ssh_multivm)
+            return # for tests
+          end
         end
 
-        vm = name.nil? ? env.vms.values.first :  env.vms[name.to_sym]
+        vm = name.nil? ? env.primary_vm :  env.vms[name.to_sym]
         if vm.nil?
           error_and_exit(:unknown_vm, :vm => name)
           return # for tests
diff --git a/templates/strings.yml b/templates/strings.yml
index 662391b36..06667f97a 100644
--- a/templates/strings.yml
+++ b/templates/strings.yml
@@ -153,6 +153,14 @@
   specific VM must be specified. This can be done by calling
   `vagrant ssh NAME` where NAME is a valid VM represented by
   your Vagrantfile.
+
+  Alternatively, if you mark one of your VMs as 'primary,'
+  then Vagrant will default to that VM. This can be done by
+  specifying `:primary => true` when defining the VM. Example:
+
+  config.vm.define(:foo, :primary => true) do |config|
+    ...
+  end
 :ssh_config_multivm: |-
   Because this Vagrant environment represents multiple VMs, a
   specific VM must be specified. This can be done by calling
diff --git a/test/vagrant/commands/ssh_test.rb b/test/vagrant/commands/ssh_test.rb
index e12c3ea75..84d80e255 100644
--- a/test/vagrant/commands/ssh_test.rb
+++ b/test/vagrant/commands/ssh_test.rb
@@ -30,12 +30,25 @@ class CommandsSSHTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
       @env.stubs(:multivm?).returns(false)
     end
 
-    should "error and exit if no VM is specified and multivm" do
+    should "error and exit if no VM is specified and multivm and no primary VM" do
       @env.stubs(:multivm?).returns(true)
+      @env.stubs(:primary_vm).returns(nil)
       @instance.expects(:error_and_exit).with(:ssh_multivm).once
       @instance.ssh_connect(nil)
     end
 
+    should "use the primary VM if it exists and no name is specified" do
+      vm = mock("vm")
+      ssh = mock("ssh")
+      vm.stubs(:created?).returns(true)
+      vm.stubs(:ssh).returns(ssh)
+
+      @env.stubs(:multivm?).returns(true)
+      @env.stubs(:primary_vm).returns(vm)
+      ssh.expects(:connect).once
+      @instance.ssh_connect(nil)
+    end
+
     should "error and exit if VM is nil" do
       @instance.expects(:error_and_exit).with(:unknown_vm, :vm => :foo).once
       @instance.ssh_connect(:foo)