diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7b3a0d78c..e72155d95 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ BUG FIXES:
     so on work properly.
   - When there is no route to host for SSH, re-establish a new connection.
   - `vagrant package` once again works, no more nil error. [GH-1423]
+  - Human friendly error when "metadata.json" is missing in a box.
 
 ## 1.1.0 (March 14, 2013)
 
diff --git a/lib/vagrant/box.rb b/lib/vagrant/box.rb
index 56e10760a..56daad812 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/box.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/box.rb
@@ -43,7 +43,10 @@ module Vagrant
       @name      = name
       @provider  = provider
       @directory = directory
-      @metadata  = JSON.parse(directory.join("metadata.json").read)
+
+      metadata_file = directory.join("metadata.json")
+      raise Errors::BoxMetadataFileNotFound, :name => @name if !metadata_file.file?
+      @metadata = JSON.parse(directory.join("metadata.json").read)
 
       @logger = Log4r::Logger.new("vagrant::box")
     end
diff --git a/lib/vagrant/errors.rb b/lib/vagrant/errors.rb
index 14b7274e6..135d6ba35 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/errors.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/errors.rb
@@ -99,6 +99,10 @@ module Vagrant
       error_key(:unknown_type, "vagrant.actions.box.download")
     end
 
+    class BoxMetadataFileNotFound < VagrantError
+      error_key(:box_metadata_file_not_found)
+    end
+
     class BoxNotFound < VagrantError
       error_key(:box_not_found)
     end
diff --git a/templates/locales/en.yml b/templates/locales/en.yml
index a4ce8eab2..0300b3287 100644
--- a/templates/locales/en.yml
+++ b/templates/locales/en.yml
@@ -52,6 +52,15 @@ en:
         Active provider: %{active_provider}
         Requested provider: %{requested_provider}
       base_vm_not_found: The base VM with the name '%{name}' was not found.
+      box_metadata_file_not_found: |-
+        The "metadata.json" file for the box '%{name}' was not found.
+        Boxes require this file in order for Vagrant to determine the
+        provider it was made for. If you made the box, please add a
+        "metadata.json" file to it. If someone else made the box, please
+        notify the box creator that the box is corrupt. Documentation for
+        box file format can be found at the URL below:
+
+        http://docs.vagrantup.com/v2/boxes/format.html
       box_not_found: Box '%{name}' could not be found.
       box_provider_doesnt_match: |-
         The box you attempted to add doesn't match the provider you specified.
diff --git a/test/unit/vagrant/box_test.rb b/test/unit/vagrant/box_test.rb
index e7eb81485..8176f19dd 100644
--- a/test/unit/vagrant/box_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/vagrant/box_test.rb
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ describe Vagrant::Box do
   let(:directory)     { environment.box2("foo", :virtualbox) }
   let(:instance)      { described_class.new(name, provider, directory) }
 
+  subject { described_class.new(name, provider, directory) }
+
   it "provides the name" do
     instance.name.should == name
   end
@@ -38,6 +40,17 @@ describe Vagrant::Box do
     instance.metadata.should == data
   end
 
+  context "without a metadata file" do
+    before :each do
+      directory.join("metadata.json").delete
+    end
+
+    it "should raise an exception" do
+      expect { subject }.
+        to raise_error(Vagrant::Errors::BoxMetadataFileNotFound)
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "destroying" do
     it "should destroy an existing box" do
       # Verify that our "box" exists