diff --git a/builder/vmware/common/driver_esx5.go b/builder/vmware/common/driver_esx5.go
index 16b67e166..edb74d051 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/common/driver_esx5.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/driver_esx5.go
@@ -448,6 +448,7 @@ func (d *ESX5Driver) CommHost(state multistep.StateBag) (string, error) {
 	}
 
 	if address := d.CommConfig.Host(); address != "" {
+		state.Put("vm_address", address)
 		return address, nil
 	}