diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 895b4e32e..f3f1b12ac 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ BUG FIXES:
     works properly. [GH-785]
   - NFS shared folders properly dereference symlinks so that the real path
     is used, avoiding mount errors [GH-1101]
+  - SSH channel is closed after the exit status is received, potentially
+    eliminating any SSH hangs. [GH-603]
 
 ## 1.2.3 (July 9, 2013)
 
diff --git a/plugins/communicators/ssh/communicator.rb b/plugins/communicators/ssh/communicator.rb
index 2dea21e33..db7111137 100644
--- a/plugins/communicators/ssh/communicator.rb
+++ b/plugins/communicators/ssh/communicator.rb
@@ -282,6 +282,10 @@ module VagrantPlugins
             ch2.on_request("exit-status") do |ch3, data|
               exit_status = data.read_long
               @logger.debug("Exit status: #{exit_status}")
+
+              # Close the channel, since after the exit status we're
+              # probably done. This fixes up issues with hanging.
+              channel.close
             end
 
             # Set the terminal