diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index bf71dd86f..48f778f31 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
   - Fix regression with remote paths from chef-solo. [GH-431]
   - Fix issue where Vagrant crashes if `.vagrant` file becomes invalid. [GH-496]
+  - Issue a warning instead of an error for attempting to forward a port
+    <= 1024. [GH-487]
 
 ## 0.8.6 (August 28, 2011)
 
diff --git a/lib/vagrant/action/vm/forward_ports.rb b/lib/vagrant/action/vm/forward_ports.rb
index 26d0d5c22..ef0e8e2e9 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/action/vm/forward_ports.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/action/vm/forward_ports.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ module Vagrant
           @app = app
           @env = env
 
-          threshold_check unless ENV["USER"] == "root"
+          threshold_check
           external_collision_check
         end
 
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ module Vagrant
         # 1024, which causes the forwarded ports to fail.
         def threshold_check
           @env.env.config.vm.forwarded_ports.each do |name, options|
-            raise Errors::ForwardPortBelowThreshold if options[:hostport] <= 1024
+            if options[:hostport] <= 1024
+              @env.ui.warn I18n.t("vagrant.actions.vm.forward_ports.privileged_ports")
+              return
+            end
           end
         end
 
diff --git a/lib/vagrant/errors.rb b/lib/vagrant/errors.rb
index b48d39e8d..7b4f0e7cc 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/errors.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/errors.rb
@@ -168,11 +168,6 @@ module Vagrant
       error_key(:auto_empty, "vagrant.actions.vm.forward_ports")
     end
 
-    class ForwardPortBelowThreshold < VagrantError
-      status_code(25)
-      error_key(:below_threshold_error, "vagrant.actions.vm.forward_ports")
-    end
-
     class ForwardPortCollision < VagrantError
       status_code(26)
       error_key(:collision_error, "vagrant.actions.vm.forward_ports")
diff --git a/templates/locales/en.yml b/templates/locales/en.yml
index e2fecc7da..a0b96c6c0 100644
--- a/templates/locales/en.yml
+++ b/templates/locales/en.yml
@@ -314,11 +314,6 @@ en:
 
             VM: %{vm_name}
             Forwarded port: %{name} (%{guest_port} => %{host_port})
-          below_threshold_error: |-
-            The host port of all forwarded ports must be above 1024. VirtualBox
-            does not allow host ports to be below 1024. (Guest ports below 1024
-            are fine. For example: SSH on port 22 on the guest can be forwarded
-            to port 2222, but not 222).
           collision_error: |-
             Vagrant cannot forward the specified ports on this VM, since they
             would collide with another VirtualBox virtual machine's forwarded
@@ -336,6 +331,12 @@ en:
           non_nat: |-
             VirtualBox adapter #%{adapter} not configured as "NAT"
             Skipping port forwarding '%{name}'.
+          privileged_ports: |-
+            You are trying to forward to privileged ports (ports <= 1024). Most
+            operating systems restrict this to only privileged process (typically
+            processes running as an administrative user). This is a warning in case
+            the port forwarding doesn't work. If any problems occur, please try a
+            port higher than 1024.
         halt:
           force: Forcing shutdown of VM...
         host_name:
diff --git a/test/unit/vagrant/action/vm/forward_ports_test.rb b/test/unit/vagrant/action/vm/forward_ports_test.rb
index 4eebb605d..175673e3b 100644
--- a/test/unit/vagrant/action/vm/forward_ports_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/vagrant/action/vm/forward_ports_test.rb
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ class ForwardPortsVMActionTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
     @vm.stubs(:name).returns("foo")
     @env["vm"] = @vm
     @env["vm.modify"] = mock("proc")
-    ENV["USER"] = "not-root"
   end
 
   context "initializing" do
@@ -26,34 +25,19 @@ class ForwardPortsVMActionTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
       @env.env.config.vm.forwarded_ports.clear
     end
 
-    context "for non-root users" do
-
-      should "error if has a port below threshold" do
-        @env.env.config.vm.forward_port("foo", 22, 222)
-        assert_raises(Vagrant::Errors::ForwardPortBelowThreshold) { @klass.new(@app, @env) }
-      end
-
-      should "not error if ports are fine" do
-        @env.env.config.vm.forward_port("foo", 22, 2222)
-        assert_nothing_raised { @klass.new(@app, @env) }
-      end
-
-    end
-    context "for a root user" do
-      setup do
-        ENV["USER"] = "root"
-      end
-
-      should "not error for any port" do
-        @env.env.config.vm.forward_port("foo", 22, 222)
-        assert_nothing_raised { @klass.new(@app, @env) }
-
-        @env.env.config.vm.forward_port("foo", 22, 2222)
-        assert_nothing_raised { @klass.new(@app, @env) }
-      end
+    should "issue a warning for ports less than 1024" do
+      @env.env.config.vm.forward_port("foo", 22, 222)
 
+      @env.ui.expects(:warn).once
+      @klass.new(@app, @env)
     end
 
+    should "not issue a warning for ports greater than 1024" do
+      @env.env.config.vm.forward_port("foo", 22, 2222)
+
+      @env.ui.expects(:warn).never
+      @klass.new(@app, @env)
+    end
   end
 
   context "checking for colliding external ports" do