diff --git a/builder/vagrant/driver_2_2.go b/builder/vagrant/driver_2_2.go
index f6f72e05a..b7a22ad2d 100644
--- a/builder/vagrant/driver_2_2.go
+++ b/builder/vagrant/driver_2_2.go
@@ -199,7 +199,11 @@ func (d *Vagrant_2_2_Driver) vagrantCmd(args ...string) (string, string, error)
 	cmd.Stdout = &stdout
 	cmd.Stderr = &stderr
 
-	cmd.Start()
+	err := cmd.Start()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("Error starting vagrant command with args: %q",
+			strings.Join(args, " "))
+	}
 
 	stdoutString := ""
 	stderrString := ""
@@ -238,7 +242,7 @@ func (d *Vagrant_2_2_Driver) vagrantCmd(args ...string) (string, string, error)
 		}
 	}()
 
-	err := cmd.Wait()
+	err = cmd.Wait()
 
 	donech <- true
 
diff --git a/builder/vagrant/step_ssh_config.go b/builder/vagrant/step_ssh_config.go
index d28f10fe4..3cf4c1817 100644
--- a/builder/vagrant/step_ssh_config.go
+++ b/builder/vagrant/step_ssh_config.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package vagrant
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"log"
 	"strconv"
 
 	"github.com/hashicorp/packer/helper/multistep"
@@ -53,6 +54,12 @@ func (s *StepSSHConfig) Run(ctx context.Context, state multistep.StateBag) multi
 		// auth provided there.
 		return multistep.ActionContinue
 	}
+	log.Printf("identity file is %s", sshConfig.IdentityFile)
+	log.Printf("Removing quotes from identity file")
+	sshConfig.IdentityFile, err = strconv.Unquote(sshConfig.IdentityFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("Error unquoting identity file: %s", err)
+	}
 	config.Comm.SSHPrivateKeyFile = sshConfig.IdentityFile
 	config.Comm.SSHUsername = sshConfig.User