diff --git a/lib/vagrant/env.rb b/lib/vagrant/env.rb
index 01b572255..bdae6d84f 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/env.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/env.rb
@@ -60,18 +60,9 @@ module Vagrant
       end
 
       def load_box!
-        if Vagrant.config.vm.box
-          @@box = Box.find(Vagrant.config.vm.box)
-
-          if !@@box
-            error_and_exit(<<-msg)
-Specified box `#{Vagrant.config.vm.box}` does not exist!
-
-The box must be added through the `vagrant box add` command. Please view
-the documentation associated with the command for more information.
-msg
-          end
+        @@box = Box.find(Vagrant.config.vm.box) if Vagrant.config.vm.box
 
+        if @@box
           logger.info("Reloading configuration to account for loaded box...")
           load_config!
         end
@@ -114,11 +105,20 @@ msg
 
       def require_box
         if !box
-          error_and_exit(<<-msg)
+          if !Vagrant.config.vm.box
+            error_and_exit(<<-msg)
 No base box was specified! A base box is required as a staring point
 for every vagrant virtual machine. Please specify one in your Vagrantfile
 using `config.vm.box`
 msg
+          else
+            error_and_exit(<<-msg)
+Specified box `#{Vagrant.config.vm.box}` does not exist!
+
+The box must be added through the `vagrant box add` command. Please view
+the documentation associated with the command for more information.
+msg
+          end
         end
       end
 
diff --git a/test/vagrant/env_test.rb b/test/vagrant/env_test.rb
index 62f65720b..ec192debe 100644
--- a/test/vagrant/env_test.rb
+++ b/test/vagrant/env_test.rb
@@ -249,18 +249,32 @@ class EnvTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
       Vagrant::Box.expects(:find).returns(@box)
       Vagrant::Env.load_box!
     end
-
-    should "error and exit if a box is specified but doesn't exist" do
-      Vagrant::Box.expects(:find).returns(nil)
-      Vagrant::Env.expects(:error_and_exit).once
-      Vagrant::Env.load_box!
-    end
   end
 
   context "requiring boxes" do
     should "error and exit if no box is found" do
+      mock_config do |config|
+        config.vm.box = nil
+      end
+
       Vagrant::Env.expects(:box).returns(nil)
-      Vagrant::Env.expects(:error_and_exit).once
+      Vagrant::Env.expects(:error_and_exit).once.with() do |msg|
+        assert msg =~ /no base box was specified/i
+        true
+      end
+      Vagrant::Env.require_box
+    end
+
+    should "error and exit if box is specified but doesn't exist" do
+      mock_config do |config|
+        config.vm.box = "foo"
+      end
+
+      Vagrant::Env.expects(:box).returns(nil)
+      Vagrant::Env.expects(:error_and_exit).once.with() do |msg|
+        assert msg =~ /does not exist/i
+        true
+      end
       Vagrant::Env.require_box
     end
   end