diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e59199eb2..28c82987c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ BUG FIXES:
       doesn't support byte ranges. [GH-4479]
   - core: Box downloads recognize more complex content types that include
       "application/json" [GH-4525]
+  - core: If all sub-machines are `autostart: false`, don't start any. [GH-4552]
   - commands/box: `--cert` flag works properly. [GH-4691]
   - command/docker-logs: Won't crash if container is removed. [GH-3990]
   - command/docker-run: Synced folders will be attached properly. [GH-3873]
diff --git a/plugins/commands/up/command.rb b/plugins/commands/up/command.rb
index 7fdb6eb3c..d7b3bd7dc 100644
--- a/plugins/commands/up/command.rb
+++ b/plugins/commands/up/command.rb
@@ -58,24 +58,37 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         @env.batch(options[:parallel]) do |batch|
           names = argv
           if names.empty?
+            autostart = false
             @env.vagrantfile.machine_names_and_options.each do |n, o|
+              autostart = true if o.has_key?(:autostart)
               o[:autostart] = true if !o.has_key?(:autostart)
               names << n.to_s if o[:autostart]
             end
+
+            # If we have an autostart key but no names, it means that
+            # all machines are autostart: false and we don't start anything.
+            names = nil if autostart && names.empty?
           end
 
-          with_target_vms(names, provider: options[:provider]) do |machine|
-            @env.ui.info(I18n.t(
-              "vagrant.commands.up.upping",
-              name: machine.name,
-              provider: machine.provider_name))
+          if names
+            with_target_vms(names, provider: options[:provider]) do |machine|
+              @env.ui.info(I18n.t(
+                "vagrant.commands.up.upping",
+                name: machine.name,
+                provider: machine.provider_name))
 
-            machines << machine
+              machines << machine
 
-            batch.action(machine, :up, options)
+              batch.action(machine, :up, options)
+            end
           end
         end
 
+        if machines.empty?
+          @env.ui.info(I18n.t("vagrant.up_no_machines"))
+          return 0
+        end
+
         # Output the post-up messages that we have, if any
         machines.each do |m|
           next if !m.config.vm.post_up_message
diff --git a/templates/locales/en.yml b/templates/locales/en.yml
index f7fe6ac51..6acf81274 100644
--- a/templates/locales/en.yml
+++ b/templates/locales/en.yml
@@ -216,6 +216,10 @@ en:
       Error! Your console doesn't support hiding input. We'll ask for
       input again below, but we WILL NOT be able to hide input. If this
       is a problem for you, ctrl-C to exit and fix your stdin.
+    up_no_machines: |-
+      No machines to bring up. This is usually because all machines are
+      set to `autostart: false`, which means you have to explicitly specify
+      the name of the machine to bring up.
     upgrading_home_path_v1_5: |-
       Vagrant is upgrading some internal state for the latest version.
       Please do not quit Vagrant at this time. While upgrading, Vagrant