diff --git a/builder/oracle/oci/config.go b/builder/oracle/oci/config.go
index 052e07ab2..2e40489e1 100644
--- a/builder/oracle/oci/config.go
+++ b/builder/oracle/oci/config.go
@@ -276,11 +276,18 @@ func (c *Config) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) error {
 			errs, errors.New("'shape' must be specified"))
 	}
 
-	if c.SubnetID == "" {
+	if (c.SubnetID == "") && (c.CreateVnicDetails.SubnetId == nil) {
 		errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(
 			errs, errors.New("'subnet_ocid' must be specified"))
 	}
 
+	if c.CreateVnicDetails.SubnetId == nil {
+		c.CreateVnicDetails.SubnetId = &c.SubnetID
+	} else if (*c.CreateVnicDetails.SubnetId != c.SubnetID) && (c.SubnetID != "") {
+		errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(
+			errs, errors.New("'create_vnic_details[subnet]' must match 'subnet_ocid' if both are specified"))
+	}
+
 	if (c.BaseImageID == "") && (c.BaseImageFilter == ListImagesRequest{}) {
 		errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(
 			errs, errors.New("'base_image_ocid' or 'base_image_filter' must be specified"))
diff --git a/builder/oracle/oci/driver_oci.go b/builder/oracle/oci/driver_oci.go
index bd3cb24be..8e572441e 100644
--- a/builder/oracle/oci/driver_oci.go
+++ b/builder/oracle/oci/driver_oci.go
@@ -124,7 +124,6 @@ func (d *driverOCI) CreateInstance(ctx context.Context, publicKey string) (strin
 		FreeformTags:       d.cfg.InstanceTags,
 		Shape:              &d.cfg.Shape,
 		SourceDetails:      InstanceSourceDetails,
-		SubnetId:           &d.cfg.SubnetID,
 		Metadata:           metadata,
 	}