diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 99cb98b2a..66bfd5ee0 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ BUG FIXES:
 
 * core: No colored output in machine-readable output. [GH-684]
 * core: User variables can now be used for non-string fields. [GH-598]
+* builder/virtualbox: don't download guest additions if disabled. [GH-731]
 * post-processor/vsphere: Uploads VM properly. [GH-694]
 * post-processor/vsphere: Process user variables.
 * provisioner/ansible-local: playbook paths are properly validated
diff --git a/builder/virtualbox/step_download_guest_additions.go b/builder/virtualbox/step_download_guest_additions.go
index 0b914b713..6dd2c9cca 100644
--- a/builder/virtualbox/step_download_guest_additions.go
+++ b/builder/virtualbox/step_download_guest_additions.go
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ func (s *stepDownloadGuestAdditions) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.Ste
 	ui := state.Get("ui").(packer.Ui)
 	config := state.Get("config").(*config)
 
+	// If we've disabled guest additions, don't download
+	if config.GuestAdditionsMode == GuestAdditionsModeDisable {
+		log.Println("Not downloading guest additions since it is disabled.")
+		return multistep.ActionContinue
+	}
+
 	// Get VBox version
 	version, err := driver.Version()
 	if err != nil {