diff --git a/bin/vagrant-package b/bin/vagrant-package
index d1e11e9d6..89710f3fc 100755
--- a/bin/vagrant-package
+++ b/bin/vagrant-package
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ Package the current vagrant environment into a box.
 
 EOS
 
+  opt :base, "name of the VM to create a base package", :type => :string
   opt :include, "files to include in the package", :type => :strings
 
   run do |command|
-    Vagrant::Commands.execute(:package, command.argv[0], command.opts[:include])
+    Vagrant::Commands.execute(:package, command.argv[0], command.opts)
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/vagrant/commands.rb b/lib/vagrant/commands.rb
index 33dd0201e..2a358c3eb 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/commands.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/commands.rb
@@ -96,11 +96,24 @@ module Vagrant
     # Export and package the current vm
     #
     # This command requires that an instance be powered off
-    def package(out_path=nil, include_files=[])
-      env.require_persisted_vm
-      error_and_exit(:vm_power_off_to_package) unless env.vm.powered_off?
+    def package(out_path=nil, opts={})
+      opts[:include] ||= []
 
-      env.vm.package(out_path, include_files)
+      if !opts[:base]
+        # Packaging a pre-existing environment
+        env.require_persisted_vm
+      else
+        # Packaging a base box; that is a VM not tied to a specific
+        # vagrant environment
+        vm = VM.find(opts[:base])
+        vm.env = env if vm
+        env.vm = vm
+
+        error_and_exit(:vm_base_not_found, :name => opts[:base]) unless vm
+      end
+
+      error_and_exit(:vm_power_off_to_package) unless env.vm.powered_off?
+      env.vm.package(out_path, opts[:include])
     end
 
     # Manages the `vagrant box` command, allowing the user to add
diff --git a/lib/vagrant/environment.rb b/lib/vagrant/environment.rb
index 423620c47..d6b8429cd 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/environment.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/environment.rb
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ module Vagrant
     attr_reader :root_path
     attr_reader :config
     attr_reader :box
-    attr_reader :vm
+    attr_accessor :vm
     attr_reader :ssh
     attr_reader :active_list
     attr_reader :commands
diff --git a/templates/errors.yml b/templates/errors.yml
index 434ab0598..18959e875 100644
--- a/templates/errors.yml
+++ b/templates/errors.yml
@@ -111,6 +111,8 @@
   only supports VirtualBox 3.1.x. Please install the proper version to continue.
 :vm_failed_to_boot: |-
   Failed to connect to VM! Failed to boot?
+:vm_base_not_found: |-
+  The specified base VM "<%= name %>" was not found.
 :vm_not_running: |-
   VM is not running! Nothing to shut down!
 :vm_not_running_for_suspend: |-
diff --git a/test/vagrant/commands_test.rb b/test/vagrant/commands_test.rb
index 06678b003..7567a8915 100644
--- a/test/vagrant/commands_test.rb
+++ b/test/vagrant/commands_test.rb
@@ -148,34 +148,67 @@ class CommandsTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
         @persisted_vm.stubs(:powered_off?).returns(true)
       end
 
-      should "require a persisted vm" do
-        @env.expects(:require_persisted_vm).once
-        @commands.package
+      context "with no base specified" do
+        should "require a persisted vm" do
+          @env.expects(:require_persisted_vm).once
+          @commands.package
+        end
       end
 
-      should "error and exit if the VM is not powered off" do
-        @persisted_vm.stubs(:powered_off?).returns(false)
-        @commands.expects(:error_and_exit).with(:vm_power_off_to_package).once
-        @persisted_vm.expects(:package).never
-        @commands.package
+      context "with base specified" do
+        setup do
+          @vm = mock("vm")
+
+          Vagrant::VM.stubs(:find).with(@name).returns(@vm)
+          @vm.stubs(:env=).with(@env)
+          @env.stubs(:vm=)
+
+          @name = :bar
+        end
+
+        should "find the given base and set it on the env" do
+          Vagrant::VM.expects(:find).with(@name).returns(@vm)
+          @vm.expects(:env=).with(@env)
+          @env.expects(:vm=).with(@vm)
+
+          @commands.package("foo", { :base => @name })
+        end
+
+        should "error if the VM is not found" do
+          Vagrant::VM.expects(:find).with(@name).returns(nil)
+          @commands.expects(:error_and_exit).with(:vm_base_not_found, :name => @name).once
+
+          @commands.package("foo", { :base => @name })
+        end
       end
 
-      should "call package on the persisted VM" do
-        @persisted_vm.expects(:package).once
-        @commands.package
-      end
+      context "shared (with and without base specified)" do
+        should "error and exit if the VM is not powered off" do
+          @persisted_vm.stubs(:powered_off?).returns(false)
+          @commands.expects(:error_and_exit).with(:vm_power_off_to_package).once
+          @persisted_vm.expects(:package).never
+          @commands.package
+        end
 
-      should "pass the out path and include_files to the package method" do
-        out_path = mock("out_path")
-        include_files = mock("include_files")
-        @persisted_vm.expects(:package).with(out_path, include_files).once
-        @commands.package(out_path, include_files)
-      end
+        should "call package on the persisted VM" do
+          @persisted_vm.expects(:package).once
+          @commands.package
+        end
 
-      should "default to an empty array when not include_files are specified" do
-        out_path = mock("out_path")
-        @persisted_vm.expects(:package).with(out_path, []).once
-        @commands.package(out_path)
+        should "pass the out path and include_files to the package method" do
+          out_path = mock("out_path")
+          include_files = mock("include_files")
+          @persisted_vm.expects(:package).with(out_path, include_files).once
+          @commands.package(out_path, {
+            :include => include_files
+          })
+        end
+
+        should "default to an empty array when not include_files are specified" do
+          out_path = mock("out_path")
+          @persisted_vm.expects(:package).with(out_path, []).once
+          @commands.package(out_path)
+        end
       end
     end