diff --git a/plugins/guests/linux/cap/persist_mount_shared_folder.rb b/plugins/guests/linux/cap/persist_mount_shared_folder.rb
index e05699d5a..120e1f541 100644
--- a/plugins/guests/linux/cap/persist_mount_shared_folder.rb
+++ b/plugins/guests/linux/cap/persist_mount_shared_folder.rb
@@ -17,11 +17,6 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         # @param [Machine] machine The machine to run the action on
         # @param [Map<String, Map>] A map of folders to add to fstab
         def self.persist_mount_shared_folder(machine, folders)
-          if !fstab_exists?(machine)
-            @@logger.info("no fstab file found, not modifying /etc/fstab")
-            return
-          end
-
           if folders.nil?
             @@logger.info("clearing /etc/fstab")
             self.remove_vagrant_managed_fstab(machine)
@@ -66,7 +61,11 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         end
 
         def self.remove_vagrant_managed_fstab(machine)
-          machine.communicate.sudo("sed -i '/\#VAGRANT-BEGIN/,/\#VAGRANT-END/d' /etc/fstab")
+          if fstab_exists?(machine)
+            machine.communicate.sudo("sed -i '/\#VAGRANT-BEGIN/,/\#VAGRANT-END/d' /etc/fstab")
+          else
+            @@logger.info("no fstab file found, carrying on")
+          end
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/test/unit/plugins/guests/linux/cap/persist_mount_shared_folder_test.rb b/test/unit/plugins/guests/linux/cap/persist_mount_shared_folder_test.rb
index 31f7ae764..b6d446e53 100644
--- a/test/unit/plugins/guests/linux/cap/persist_mount_shared_folder_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/plugins/guests/linux/cap/persist_mount_shared_folder_test.rb
@@ -83,12 +83,20 @@ describe "VagrantPlugins::GuestLinux::Cap::PersistMountSharedFolder" do
     context "fstab does not exist" do
       before do
         allow(cap).to receive(:fstab_exists?).and_return(false)
+        # Ensure /etc/fstab is not being modified
+        expect(comm).not_to receive(:sudo).with(/sed -i .? \/etc\/fstab/)
       end
 
-      it "does not modify /etc/fstab" do
-        expect(cap).not_to receive(:remove_vagrant_managed_fstab)
+      it "creates /etc/fstab" do
+        expect(cap).to receive(:remove_vagrant_managed_fstab)
+        expect(comm).to receive(:sudo).with(/>> \/etc\/fstab/)
+        cap.persist_mount_shared_folder(machine, [])
+      end
+
+      it "does not remove contents of /etc/fstab" do
+        expect(cap).to receive(:remove_vagrant_managed_fstab)
         expect(comm).not_to receive(:sudo).with(/echo '' >> \/etc\/fstab/)
-        cap.persist_mount_shared_folder(machine, folders)
+        cap.persist_mount_shared_folder(machine, nil)
       end
     end
   end