diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 003a6cf9f..6110a91d1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@
 * provisioner/salt-masterless: Also use sudo to clean up if we used sudo to install. [GH-5240]
 * builder/profitbricks: added support for Cloud API v4. [GH-5233]
 
+### BUG FIXES:
+
+* builder/vmware: Fix timestamp in default VMName. [GH-5274]
+
 
 ## 1.0.4 (August 11, 2017)
 
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/step_export.go b/builder/vmware/iso/step_export.go
index 3d055ddb4..c0d39c76f 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/step_export.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/step_export.go
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ func (s *StepExport) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 	}
 
 	if c.RemoteType != "esx5" || s.Format == "" {
+		ui.Say("Skipping export of virtual machine (export is allowed only for ESXi and the format needs to be specified)...")
 		return multistep.ActionContinue
 	}
 
diff --git a/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go b/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go
index 93e8347c6..145705fd7 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ func NewConfig(raws ...interface{}) (*Config, []string, error) {
 
 	// Defaults
 	if c.VMName == "" {
-		c.VMName = fmt.Sprintf("packer-%s-{{timestamp}}", c.PackerBuildName)
+		c.VMName = fmt.Sprintf(
+			"packer-%s-%d", c.PackerBuildName, interpolate.InitTime.Unix())
 	}
 
 	// Prepare the errors
diff --git a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md
index 478c1a0b0..4d00965b7 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md
+++ b/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html.md
@@ -478,7 +478,8 @@ modify as well:
 
 -   `format` (string) - Either "ovf", "ova" or "vmx", this specifies the output
     format of the exported virtual machine. This defaults to "ovf".
-    Before using this option, you need to install `ovftool`.
+    Before using this option, you need to install `ovftool`. This option 
+	works currently only with option remote_type set to "esx5".
 
 ### VNC port discovery