diff --git a/lib/vagrant/action.rb b/lib/vagrant/action.rb
index 95e7933c6..45d50068d 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/action.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/action.rb
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ module Vagrant
       autoload :HandleBox, "vagrant/action/builtin/handle_box"
       autoload :HandleBoxUrl, "vagrant/action/builtin/handle_box_url"
       autoload :HandleForwardedPortCollisions, "vagrant/action/builtin/handle_forwarded_port_collisions"
+      autoload :HasProvisioner, "vagrant/action/builtin/has_provisioner"
       autoload :IsEnvSet, "vagrant/action/builtin/is_env_set"
       autoload :IsState, "vagrant/action/builtin/is_state"
       autoload :Lock, "vagrant/action/builtin/lock"
diff --git a/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/has_provisioner.rb b/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/has_provisioner.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c58abe9b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/has_provisioner.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+module Vagrant
+  module Action
+    module Builtin
+      # This middleware is used with Call to test if this machine
+      # has available provisioners
+      class HasProvisioner
+        def initialize(app, env)
+          @app    = app
+          @logger = Log4r::Logger.new("vagrant::action::builtin::has_provisioner")
+        end
+
+        def call(env)
+          machine = env[:machine]
+
+          if machine.provider.capability?(:has_communicator)
+            has_communicator = machine.provider.capability(:has_communicator)
+          else
+            has_communicator = true
+          end
+
+          env[:skip] = []
+          if !has_communicator
+            machine.config.vm.provisioners.each do |p|
+              if p.communicator_required
+                env[:skip].push(p)
+                @logger.info("Skipping running provisioner #{p.name || 'no name'}, type: #{p.type}")
+                p.run = :never
+              end
+            end
+          end
+          @app.call(env)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/mixin_provisioners.rb b/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/mixin_provisioners.rb
index 32e7fa7d5..07f14eb73 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/mixin_provisioners.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/action/builtin/mixin_provisioners.rb
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ module Vagrant
               run:  provisioner.run,
               before:  provisioner.before,
               after:  provisioner.after,
+              communicator_required: provisioner.communicator_required,
             }
 
             # Return the result
diff --git a/plugins/kernel_v2/config/vm.rb b/plugins/kernel_v2/config/vm.rb
index 3f8e419b3..1fa0d2e5e 100644
--- a/plugins/kernel_v2/config/vm.rb
+++ b/plugins/kernel_v2/config/vm.rb
@@ -410,6 +410,8 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         prov.preserve_order = !!options.delete(:preserve_order) if \
           options.key?(:preserve_order)
         prov.run = options.delete(:run) if options.key?(:run)
+        prov.communicator_required = options.delete(:communicator_required) if options.key?(:communicator_required)
+
         prov.add_config(options, &block)
         nil
       end
diff --git a/plugins/kernel_v2/config/vm_provisioner.rb b/plugins/kernel_v2/config/vm_provisioner.rb
index 97f838e6e..a99e143d0 100644
--- a/plugins/kernel_v2/config/vm_provisioner.rb
+++ b/plugins/kernel_v2/config/vm_provisioner.rb
@@ -56,6 +56,12 @@ module VagrantPlugins
       # @return [String, Symbol]
       attr_accessor :after
 
+      # Boolean, when true signifies that some communicator must
+      # be available in order for the provisioner to run.
+      #
+      # @return [Boolean]
+      attr_accessor :communicator_required
+
       def initialize(name, type, **options)
         @logger = Log4r::Logger.new("vagrant::config::vm::provisioner")
         @logger.debug("Provisioner defined: #{name}")
@@ -69,6 +75,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         @type    = type
         @before  = options[:before]
         @after   = options[:after]
+        @communicator_required = options.fetch(:communicator_required, true)
 
         # Attempt to find the provisioner...
         if !Vagrant.plugin("2").manager.provisioners[type]
@@ -118,6 +125,10 @@ module VagrantPlugins
 
         provisioner_names = provisioners.map { |i| i.name.to_s if i.name != name }.compact
 
+        if ![TrueClass, FalseClass].include?(@communicator_required.class)
+          errors << I18n.t("vagrant.provisioners.base.wrong_type", opt: "communicator_required", type: "boolean")
+        end
+
         if @before && @after
           errors << I18n.t("vagrant.provisioners.base.both_before_after_set")
         end
@@ -127,7 +138,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
             if @before.is_a?(Symbol) && !VALID_BEFORE_AFTER_TYPES.include?(@before)
               errors << I18n.t("vagrant.provisioners.base.invalid_alias_value", opt: "before", alias: VALID_BEFORE_AFTER_TYPES.join(", "))
             elsif !@before.is_a?(String) && !VALID_BEFORE_AFTER_TYPES.include?(@before)
-              errors << I18n.t("vagrant.provisioners.base.wrong_type", opt: "before")
+              errors << I18n.t("vagrant.provisioners.base.wrong_type", opt: "before", type: "string")
             end
 
             if !provisioner_names.include?(@before)
@@ -153,7 +164,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
             if @after.is_a?(Symbol)
               errors << I18n.t("vagrant.provisioners.base.invalid_alias_value", opt: "after", alias: VALID_BEFORE_AFTER_TYPES.join(", "))
             elsif !@after.is_a?(String)
-              errors << I18n.t("vagrant.provisioners.base.wrong_type", opt: "after")
+              errors << I18n.t("vagrant.provisioners.base.wrong_type", opt: "after", type: "string")
             end
 
             if !provisioner_names.include?(@after)
diff --git a/plugins/providers/docker/action.rb b/plugins/providers/docker/action.rb
index f0a2d7a05..2705439f4 100644
--- a/plugins/providers/docker/action.rb
+++ b/plugins/providers/docker/action.rb
@@ -66,14 +66,8 @@ module VagrantPlugins
                 next
               end
 
-              b3.use Call, HasSSH do |env3, b4|
-                if env3[:result]
-                  b4.use Provision
-                else
-                  b4.use Message,
-                    I18n.t("docker_provider.messages.provision_no_ssh"),
-                    post: true
-                end
+              b3.use Call, HasProvisioner do |env3, b4|
+                b4.use Provision
               end
             end
           end
@@ -216,14 +210,8 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         Vagrant::Action::Builder.new.tap do |b|
           b.use Call, IsState, :running do |env, b2|
             if env[:machine_action] != :run_command
-              b2.use Call, HasSSH do |env2, b3|
-                if env2[:result]
-                  b3.use Provision
-                else
-                  b3.use Message,
-                    I18n.t("docker_provider.messages.provision_no_ssh"),
-                    post: true
-                end
+              b2.use Call, HasProvisioner do |env2, b3|
+                b3.use Provision
               end
             end
 
diff --git a/plugins/providers/docker/cap/has_communicator.rb b/plugins/providers/docker/cap/has_communicator.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..42ef6c763
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/providers/docker/cap/has_communicator.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+module VagrantPlugins
+  module DockerProvider
+    module Cap
+      module HasCommunicator
+        def self.has_communicator(machine)
+          return machine.provider_config.has_ssh
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/plugins/providers/docker/plugin.rb b/plugins/providers/docker/plugin.rb
index d5f7c7bd4..b297016ec 100644
--- a/plugins/providers/docker/plugin.rb
+++ b/plugins/providers/docker/plugin.rb
@@ -67,6 +67,11 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         Cap::ProxyMachine
       end
 
+      provider_capability("docker", "has_communicator") do
+        require_relative "cap/has_communicator"
+        Cap::HasCommunicator
+      end
+
       protected
 
       def self.init!
diff --git a/templates/locales/en.yml b/templates/locales/en.yml
index 6bdb40967..8ca9b1f1c 100644
--- a/templates/locales/en.yml
+++ b/templates/locales/en.yml
@@ -2697,7 +2697,7 @@ en:
         missing_provisioner_name: |-
           Could not find provisioner name `%{name}` defined for machine `%{machine_name}` to run provisioner "%{provisioner_name}" `%{action}`.
         wrong_type: |-
-          Provisioner option `%{opt}` is not set as a valid type. Must be a string.
+          Provisioner option `%{opt}` is not set as a valid type. Must be a %{type}.
       chef:
         chef_not_detected: |-
           The chef binary (either `chef-solo` or `chef-client`) was not found on
diff --git a/templates/locales/providers_docker.yml b/templates/locales/providers_docker.yml
index 0760b5567..b4709dd2d 100644
--- a/templates/locales/providers_docker.yml
+++ b/templates/locales/providers_docker.yml
@@ -133,6 +133,10 @@ en:
         Stopping container...
       container_ready: |-
         Container started and ready for use!
+      not_provisioning: |-
+        The following provisioners require a communicator, though none is available (this container does not support SSH).
+        Not running the following provisioners:
+        - %{provisioners}
 
     status:
       host_state_unknown: |-
diff --git a/test/unit/plugins/kernel_v2/config/vm_test.rb b/test/unit/plugins/kernel_v2/config/vm_test.rb
index 914d3c74f..b8d06fae4 100644
--- a/test/unit/plugins/kernel_v2/config/vm_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/plugins/kernel_v2/config/vm_test.rb
@@ -441,15 +441,18 @@ describe VagrantPlugins::Kernel_V2::VMConfig do
     it "stores the provisioners" do
       subject.provision("shell", inline: "foo")
       subject.provision("shell", inline: "bar", run: "always") { |s| s.path = "baz" }
+      subject.provision("shell", inline: "foo", communicator_required: false)
       subject.finalize!
 
       r = subject.provisioners
-      expect(r.length).to eql(2)
+      expect(r.length).to eql(3)
       expect(r[0].run).to be_nil
       expect(r[0].config.inline).to eql("foo")
       expect(r[1].config.inline).to eql("bar")
       expect(r[1].config.path).to eql("baz")
       expect(r[1].run).to eql(:always)
+      expect(r[1].communicator_required).to eql(true)
+      expect(r[2].communicator_required).to eql(false)
     end
 
     it "allows provisioner settings to be overridden" do
diff --git a/test/unit/vagrant/action/builtin/has_provisioner_test.rb b/test/unit/vagrant/action/builtin/has_provisioner_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..474b8d60b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/vagrant/action/builtin/has_provisioner_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+require File.expand_path("../../../../base", __FILE__)
+
+
+describe Vagrant::Action::Builtin::HasProvisioner do
+  include_context "unit"
+
+  let(:provisioner_one) { double("provisioner_one") }
+  let(:provisioner_two) { double("provisioner_two") }
+  let(:provisioners) { [provisioner_one, provisioner_two] }
+  let(:machine) { double("machine") }
+  let(:ui) {double("ui") }
+  let(:env)    {{ machine: machine, ui: ui, root_path: Pathname.new(".") }}
+  let(:app)    { lambda { |*args| }}
+
+  subject { described_class.new(app, env) }
+
+  describe "#call" do
+    before do 
+      allow(provisioner_one).to receive(:communicator_required).and_return(true)
+      allow(provisioner_one).to receive(:name)
+      allow(provisioner_one).to receive(:type)
+      allow(provisioner_two).to receive(:communicator_required).and_return(false)
+      allow(provisioner_two).to receive(:name)
+      allow(provisioner_two).to receive(:type)
+      allow(machine).to receive_message_chain(:config, :vm, :provisioners).and_return(provisioners)
+    end
+
+    context "provider has capability :has_communicator" do 
+      before do
+        allow(machine).to receive_message_chain(:provider, :capability?).with(:has_communicator).and_return(true)
+      end
+    
+      it "does not skip any provisioners if provider has ssh" do
+        allow(machine).to receive_message_chain(:provider, :capability).with(:has_communicator).and_return(true)
+        expect(provisioner_one).to_not receive(:communicator_required)
+        expect(provisioner_two).to_not receive(:communicator_required)
+        
+        subject.call(env)
+        expect(env[:skip]).to eq([])
+      end
+
+      it "skips provisioners that require a communicator if provider does not have ssh" do
+        allow(machine).to receive_message_chain(:provider, :capability).with(:has_communicator).and_return(false)
+        expect(provisioner_one).to receive(:communicator_required)
+        expect(provisioner_two).to receive(:communicator_required)
+        expect(provisioner_one).to receive(:run=).with(:never)
+      
+        subject.call(env)
+        expect(env[:skip]).to eq([provisioner_one])
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "provider does not have capability :has_communicator" do 
+      before do
+        allow(machine).to receive_message_chain(:provider, :capability?).with(:has_communicator).and_return(false)
+      end
+
+      it "does not skip any provisioners" do
+        expect(provisioner_one).to_not receive(:communicator_required)
+        expect(provisioner_two).to_not receive(:communicator_required)
+        subject.call(env)
+        expect(env[:skip]).to eq([])
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/website/pages/docs/provisioning/basic_usage.mdx b/website/pages/docs/provisioning/basic_usage.mdx
index 8da7f6c06..82b94006d 100644
--- a/website/pages/docs/provisioning/basic_usage.mdx
+++ b/website/pages/docs/provisioning/basic_usage.mdx
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@ option is what type a provisioner is:
   every root provisioner, or before all provisioners respectively.
   **Note**: This option is currently experimental, so it needs to be explicitly
   enabled to work. More info can be found [here](/docs/experimental).
+* `communicator_required` (boolean) - Specifies the machine must be accessible by
+  Vagrant in order to run the provisioner. If set to true, the provisioner will
+  only run if Vagrant can establish communication with the guest. If set to false
+  the provisioner will run regardless of Vagrant's ability to communicate with the
+  guest. Defaults to true.
 
 More information about how to use `before` and `after` options can be read [below](#dependency-provisioners).