diff --git a/lib/vagrant/box/remote.rb b/lib/vagrant/box/remote.rb
index 60eb95100..13509c099 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/box/remote.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/box/remote.rb
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ module Vagrant
       #   disk.
       # @param [String] metadata_url Metadata URL for box
       # @param [Hook] hook A hook to apply to the box downloader, for example, for authentication
-      def initialize(name, provider, version, directory, metadata_url: nil, hook: nil)
+      def initialize(name, provider, version, directory, metadata_url: nil, hook: nil, client: nil)
         @logger = Log4r::Logger.new("vagrant::box")
 
         @name      = name
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ module Vagrant
         @directory = directory
         @metadata_url = metadata_url
         @hook = hook
+
+        if client.nil?
+          raise ArgumentError,
+            "Remote client is required for `#{self.class.name}'"
+        end
+        @client = client
       end
 
       def destroy!
@@ -57,10 +63,6 @@ module Vagrant
       def to_proto
         client.proto
       end
-
-      def client=(c)
-        @client = c
-      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/plugins/commands/serve/client/target/machine.rb b/plugins/commands/serve/client/target/machine.rb
index 62e7bc77c..3f9c758f6 100644
--- a/plugins/commands/serve/client/target/machine.rb
+++ b/plugins/commands/serve/client/target/machine.rb
@@ -19,15 +19,13 @@ module VagrantPlugins
           def box
             b = client.box(Empty.new)
             box_client = Box.load(b, broker: broker)
-            logger.debug("got box client #{box_client}")
             box = Vagrant::Box.new(
               box_client.name,
               box_client.provider.to_sym,
               box_client.version,
               Pathname.new(box_client.directory),
+              client: box_client
             )
-            logger.debug("generate box from box client #{box}")
-            box.client = box_client
             box
           end