diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 81ba16950..7e88b47d1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ BUG FIXES:
   - commands/package: `--base` works without crashing for VirtualBox.
   - commands/reload: If `--provision` is specified, force provisioning. [GH-3657]
   - guests/redhat: Fix networking issues with CentOS. [GH-3649]
+  - guests/windows: Human error if WinRM not in use to configure networks. [GH-3651]
   - providers/docker: Show proper error message when on Linux. [GH-3654]
   - synced\_folders/rsync: Create the directory before syncing.
 
diff --git a/plugins/guests/windows/cap/configure_networks.rb b/plugins/guests/windows/cap/configure_networks.rb
index 931c67345..c8c2c1061 100644
--- a/plugins/guests/windows/cap/configure_networks.rb
+++ b/plugins/guests/windows/cap/configure_networks.rb
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         @@logger = Log4r::Logger.new("vagrant::guest::windows::configure_networks")
 
         def self.configure_networks(machine, networks)
+          if machine.config.vm.communicator != :winrm
+            raise Errors::NetworkWinRMRequired
+          end
+
           @@logger.debug("Networks: #{networks.inspect}")
 
           guest_network = GuestNetwork.new(machine.communicate)
diff --git a/plugins/guests/windows/errors.rb b/plugins/guests/windows/errors.rb
index 4b6b3c716..ca1e3fb36 100644
--- a/plugins/guests/windows/errors.rb
+++ b/plugins/guests/windows/errors.rb
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ module VagrantPlugins
       class CantReadMACAddresses < WindowsError
         error_key(:cant_read_mac_addresses)
       end
+
+      class NetworkWinRMRequired < WindowsError
+        error_key(:network_winrm_required)
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/templates/locales/guest_windows.yml b/templates/locales/guest_windows.yml
index dbdb2d7ce..4f247930d 100644
--- a/templates/locales/guest_windows.yml
+++ b/templates/locales/guest_windows.yml
@@ -9,3 +9,12 @@ en:
 
         Until then, you must remove any networking configurations other
         than forwarded ports from your Vagrantfile for Vagrant to continue.
+      network_winrm_required: |-
+        Configuring networks on Windows requires the communicator to be
+        set to WinRM. To do this, add the following to your Vagrantfile:
+
+          config.vm.communicator = "winrm"
+
+        Note that the Windows guest must be configured to accept insecure
+        WinRM connections, and the WinRM port must be forwarded properly from
+        the guest machine. This is not always done by default.