diff --git a/builder/vmware/builder.go b/builder/vmware/builder.go
index 90bebbe73..ef3298cff 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/builder.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/builder.go
@@ -22,11 +22,12 @@ type config struct {
 	OutputDir      string   `mapstructure:"output_directory"`
 	HTTPDir        string   `mapstructure:"http_directory"`
 	BootCommand    []string `mapstructure:"boot_command"`
-	BootWait       uint     `mapstructure:"boot_wait"`
-	SSHUser        string   `mapstructure:"ssh_user"`
-	SSHPassword    string   `mapstructure:"ssh_password"`
+	BootWait       time.Duration
+	SSHUser        string `mapstructure:"ssh_user"`
+	SSHPassword    string `mapstructure:"ssh_password"`
 	SSHWaitTimeout time.Duration
 
+	RawBootWait       string `mapstructure:"boot_wait"`
 	RawSSHWaitTimeout string `mapstructure:"ssh_wait_timeout"`
 }
 
@@ -48,6 +49,13 @@ func (b *Builder) Prepare(raw interface{}) (err error) {
 		b.config.OutputDir = "vmware"
 	}
 
+	if b.config.RawBootWait != "" {
+		b.config.BootWait, err = time.ParseDuration(b.config.RawBootWait)
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+	}
+
 	if b.config.RawSSHWaitTimeout == "" {
 		b.config.RawSSHWaitTimeout = "20m"
 	}
diff --git a/builder/vmware/step_run.go b/builder/vmware/step_run.go
index 7dc096a88..c8c596ccb 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/step_run.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/step_run.go
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@ func (s *stepRun) Run(state map[string]interface{}) multistep.StepAction {
 	}
 
 	// Wait the wait amount
-	if config.BootWait > 0 {
-		ui.Say(fmt.Sprintf("Waiting %d seconds for boot...", config.BootWait))
-		time.Sleep(time.Duration(config.BootWait) * time.Second)
+	if int64(config.BootWait) > 0 {
+		ui.Say(fmt.Sprintf("Waiting %s for boot...", config.BootWait.String()))
+		time.Sleep(config.BootWait)
 	}
 
 	return multistep.ActionContinue