diff --git a/lib/vagrant/vagrantfile.rb b/lib/vagrant/vagrantfile.rb
index 1bf64750e..27d9dcb52 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/vagrantfile.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/vagrantfile.rb
@@ -170,8 +170,8 @@ module Vagrant
 
       # Track the original box so we know if we changed
       box = nil
-      original_box = config.vm.box
-      original_version = config.vm.box_version
+      initial_box = original_box = config.vm.box
+      initial_version = original_version = config.vm.box_version
 
       # Check if this machine has a local box metadata file
       # describing the existing guest. If so, load it and
@@ -232,6 +232,17 @@ module Vagrant
       # Load the box and provider overrides
       load_box_proc.call
 
+      # NOTE: In cases where the box_meta file contains stale information
+      #       and the reference box no longer exists, fall back to initial
+      #       configuration and attempt to load that
+      if box.nil?
+        @logger.warn("Failed to locate #{config.vm.box} with version #{config.vm.box_version}")
+        @logger.warn("Performing lookup with inital values #{initial_box} with version #{initial_version}")
+        config.vm.box = original_box = initial_box
+        config.vm.box_version = original_box = initial_version
+        load_box_proc.call
+      end
+
       # Ensure box attributes are set to original values in
       # case they were modified by the local box metadata
       config.vm.box = original_box
diff --git a/test/unit/vagrant/vagrantfile_test.rb b/test/unit/vagrant/vagrantfile_test.rb
index 39e783db7..129bb5874 100644
--- a/test/unit/vagrant/vagrantfile_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/vagrant/vagrantfile_test.rb
@@ -367,6 +367,58 @@ describe Vagrant::Vagrantfile do
       expect { subject.machine_config(:default, :foo, boxes) }.
         to raise_error(Vagrant::Errors::ProviderNotUsable)
     end
+
+    context "local box metadata file" do
+      let(:data_path) { double(:data_path) }
+      let(:meta_file) { double(:meta_file) }
+      let(:box_version) { "2.0" }
+
+      before do
+        register_provider("foo")
+        iso_env.box3("base", "1.0", :foo)
+        allow(data_path).to receive(:join).with("box_meta").
+          and_return(meta_file)
+        allow(meta_file).to receive(:file?).and_return(false)
+        configure do |config|
+          config.vm.box = "base"
+          config.vm.box_version = box_version
+        end
+      end
+
+      it "checks for local box metadata file" do
+        expect(meta_file).to receive(:file?).and_return(false)
+        subject.machine_config(:default, :foo, boxes, data_path)
+      end
+
+      context "file exists" do
+        let(:meta_file_content) { '{"name":"base","version":"1.0"}' }
+
+        before do
+          allow(meta_file).to receive(:file?).and_return(true)
+          allow(meta_file).to receive(:read).and_return(meta_file_content)
+        end
+
+        it "reads the local box metadata file" do
+          expect(meta_file).to receive(:read).and_return(meta_file_content)
+          subject.machine_config(:default, :foo, boxes, data_path)
+        end
+
+        it "properly loads the box defined in metadata" do
+          result = subject.machine_config(:default, :foo, boxes, data_path)
+          expect(result[:box]).not_to be_nil
+        end
+
+        context "with invalid box version" do
+          let(:box_version) { "1.0" }
+          let(:meta_file_content) { '{"name":"base","version":"2.0"}' }
+
+          it "loads box base on Vagrantfile information" do
+            result = subject.machine_config(:default, :foo, boxes, data_path)
+            expect(result[:box]).not_to be_nil
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   describe "#machine_names" do