diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 609908257..0a665d5c4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 ## 1.1.3 (unreleased)
 
+IMPROVEMENTS:
+
+  - Puppet apply provisioner now retains the default module path
+    even while specifying custom module paths. [GH-1207]
+
 BUG FIXES:
 
   - Attempt to re-establish SSH connection on `Net::SSH::Disconnect`
diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/puppet/provisioner/puppet.rb b/plugins/provisioners/puppet/provisioner/puppet.rb
index 5133ae318..386ee5263 100644
--- a/plugins/provisioners/puppet/provisioner/puppet.rb
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/puppet/provisioner/puppet.rb
@@ -70,7 +70,14 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         def run_puppet_apply
           options = [config.options].flatten
           module_paths = @module_paths.map { |_, to| to }
-          options << "--modulepath '#{module_paths.join(':')}'" if !@module_paths.empty?
+          if !@module_paths.empty?
+            # Prepend the default module path
+            module_paths.unshift("/etc/puppet/modules")
+
+            # Add the command line switch to add the module path
+            options << "--modulepath '#{module_paths.join(':')}'"
+          end
+
           options << @manifest_file
           options = options.join(" ")