diff --git a/plugins/hosts/fedora/host.rb b/plugins/hosts/fedora/host.rb
index 40b1ca33d..5d5c246a8 100644
--- a/plugins/hosts/fedora/host.rb
+++ b/plugins/hosts/fedora/host.rb
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
       def initialize(*args)
         super
 
-        @nfs_server_binary = "/etc/init.d/nfs"
+        nfs_server_binary = "/etc/init.d/nfs"
 
         # On Fedora 16+, systemd replaced init.d, so we have to use the
         # proper NFS binary. This checks to see if we need to do that.
@@ -38,13 +38,16 @@ module VagrantPlugins
             if version_number >= 16
               # "service nfs-server" will redirect properly to systemctl
               # when "service nfs-server restart" is called.
-              @nfs_server_binary = "/usr/sbin/service nfs-server"
+              nfs_server_binary = "/usr/sbin/service nfs-server"
             end
           end
         rescue Errno::ENOENT
           # File doesn't exist, not a big deal, assume we're on a
           # lower version.
         end
+        @nfs_apply_command = "/usr/sbin/exportfs -r"
+        @nfs_check_command = "#{nfs_server_binary} status"
+        @nfs_start_command = "#{nfs_server_binary} start"
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/plugins/hosts/gentoo/host.rb b/plugins/hosts/gentoo/host.rb
index becaaf847..58179441b 100644
--- a/plugins/hosts/gentoo/host.rb
+++ b/plugins/hosts/gentoo/host.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@ module VagrantPlugins
       def initialize(*args)
         super
 
-        @nfs_server_binary = "/etc/init.d/nfs"
+        @nfs_apply_command = "/usr/sbin/exportfs -r"
+        @nfs_check_command = "service nfs status"
+        @nfs_start_command = "service nfs start"
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/plugins/hosts/linux/host.rb b/plugins/hosts/linux/host.rb
index 265992389..56b25f95f 100644
--- a/plugins/hosts/linux/host.rb
+++ b/plugins/hosts/linux/host.rb
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         super
 
         @logger = Log4r::Logger.new("vagrant::hosts::linux")
-        @nfs_server_binary = "/etc/init.d/nfs-kernel-server"
+        @nfs_apply_command = "/usr/sbin/exportfs -r"
+        @nfs_check_command = "/etc/init.d/nfs-kernel-server status"
+        @nfs_start_command = "/etc/init.d/nfs-kernel-server start"
       end
 
       def nfs?
@@ -51,9 +53,11 @@ module VagrantPlugins
           system(%Q[sudo su root -c "echo '#{line}' >> /etc/exports"])
         end
 
-        # We run restart here instead of "update" just in case nfsd
-        # is not starting
-        system("sudo #{@nfs_server_binary} restart")
+        if nfs_running?
+          system("sudo #{@nfs_apply_command}")
+        else
+          system("sudo #{@nfs_start_command}")
+        end
       end
 
       def nfs_prune(valid_ids)
@@ -83,6 +87,10 @@ module VagrantPlugins
 
       protected
 
+      def nfs_running?
+        system("#{@nfs_check_command}")
+      end
+
       def nfs_cleanup(id)
         return if !File.exist?("/etc/exports")
 
diff --git a/plugins/hosts/opensuse/host.rb b/plugins/hosts/opensuse/host.rb
index b560a4944..4c564bb45 100644
--- a/plugins/hosts/opensuse/host.rb
+++ b/plugins/hosts/opensuse/host.rb
@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@ module VagrantPlugins
       def initialize(*args)
         super
 
-        @nfs_server_binary = "/etc/init.d/nfsserver"
+        @nfs_apply_command = "/usr/sbin/exportfs -r"
+        @nfs_check_command = "service nfsserver status"
+	@nfs_start_command = "service nfsserver start"
       end
     end
   end