diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go b/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
index 3567e26a2..688f52d72 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
@@ -200,6 +200,9 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 	default:
 		dir = new(vmwcommon.LocalOutputDir)
 	}
+
+	exportOutputPath := b.config.OutputDir
+
 	if b.config.RemoteType != "" && b.config.Format != "" {
 		b.config.OutputDir = b.config.VMName
 	}
@@ -307,6 +310,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 		&StepExport{
 			Format:     b.config.Format,
 			SkipExport: b.config.SkipExport,
+			OutputDir:  exportOutputPath,
 		},
 	}
 
@@ -332,7 +336,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 	var files []string
 	if b.config.RemoteType != "" && b.config.Format != "" {
 		dir = new(vmwcommon.LocalOutputDir)
-		dir.SetOutputDir(b.config.OutputDir)
+		dir.SetOutputDir(exportOutputPath)
 		files, err = dir.ListFiles()
 	} else {
 		files, err = state.Get("dir").(OutputDir).ListFiles()
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/step_export.go b/builder/vmware/iso/step_export.go
index c0d39c76f..91a2ce486 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/step_export.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/step_export.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import (
 	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
-	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -17,9 +16,10 @@ import (
 type StepExport struct {
 	Format     string
 	SkipExport bool
+	OutputDir  string
 }
 
-func (s *StepExport) generateArgs(c *Config, outputPath string, hidePassword bool) []string {
+func (s *StepExport) generateArgs(c *Config, hidePassword bool) []string {
 	password := url.QueryEscape(c.RemotePassword)
 	if hidePassword {
 		password = "****"
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func (s *StepExport) generateArgs(c *Config, outputPath string, hidePassword boo
 		"--skipManifestCheck",
 		"-tt=" + s.Format,
 		"vi://" + c.RemoteUser + ":" + password + "@" + c.RemoteHost + "/" + c.VMName,
-		outputPath,
+		s.OutputDir,
 	}
 	return append(c.OVFToolOptions, args...)
 }
@@ -62,16 +62,18 @@ func (s *StepExport) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 	}
 
 	// Export the VM
-	outputPath := filepath.Join(c.VMName, c.VMName+"."+s.Format)
+	if s.OutputDir == "" {
+		s.OutputDir = c.VMName + "." + s.Format
+	}
 
 	if s.Format == "ova" {
-		os.MkdirAll(outputPath, 0755)
+		os.MkdirAll(s.OutputDir, 0755)
 	}
 
 	ui.Say("Exporting virtual machine...")
-	ui.Message(fmt.Sprintf("Executing: %s %s", ovftool, strings.Join(s.generateArgs(c, outputPath, true), " ")))
+	ui.Message(fmt.Sprintf("Executing: %s %s", ovftool, strings.Join(s.generateArgs(c, true), " ")))
 	var out bytes.Buffer
-	cmd := exec.Command(ovftool, s.generateArgs(c, outputPath, false)...)
+	cmd := exec.Command(ovftool, s.generateArgs(c, false)...)
 	cmd.Stdout = &out
 	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
 		err := fmt.Errorf("Error exporting virtual machine: %s\n%s\n", err, out.String())
@@ -82,8 +84,6 @@ func (s *StepExport) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 
 	ui.Message(fmt.Sprintf("%s", out.String()))
 
-	state.Put("exportPath", outputPath)
-
 	return multistep.ActionContinue
 }