diff --git a/lib/vagrant/action.rb b/lib/vagrant/action.rb
index c5ef5a651..329b309b1 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/action.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/action.rb
@@ -90,14 +90,18 @@ module Vagrant
     # Any options given are injected into the environment hash.
     #
     # @param [Object] callable An object which responds to `call`.
-    def run(callable, options=nil)
-      callable = Builder.new.use(callable) if callable.kind_of?(Class)
-      callable = self.class.actions[callable] if callable.kind_of?(Symbol)
-      raise ArgumentError.new("Argument to run must be a callable object or registered action.") if !callable
+    def run(callable_id, options=nil)
+      callable = callable_id
+      callable = Builder.new.use(callable_id) if callable_id.kind_of?(Class)
+      callable = self.class.actions[callable_id] if callable_id.kind_of?(Symbol)
+      raise ArgumentError.new("Argument to run must be a callable object or registered action.") if !callable || !callable.respond_to?(:call)
 
       action_environment = Action::Environment.new(env)
       action_environment.merge!(options || {})
 
+      # Run the before action run callback, if we're not doing that already
+      run(:before_action_run) if callable_id != :before_action_run
+
       # Run the action chain in a busy block, marking the environment as
       # interrupted if a SIGINT occurs, and exiting cleanly once the
       # chain has been run.
diff --git a/lib/vagrant/action/builtin.rb b/lib/vagrant/action/builtin.rb
index 5162531c6..a4413e31a 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/action/builtin.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/action/builtin.rb
@@ -6,15 +6,13 @@ module Vagrant
     # in the future this will no longer be necessary with autoloading.
     def self.builtin!
       # provision - Provisions a running VM
-      provision = Builder.new do
+      register(:provision, Builder.new do
         use VM::Provision
-      end
-
-      register :provision, provision
+      end)
 
       # start - Starts a VM, assuming it already exists on the
       # environment.
-      start = Builder.new do
+      register(:start, Builder.new do
         use VM::CleanMachineFolder
         use VM::Customize
         use VM::ClearForwardedPorts
@@ -25,104 +23,83 @@ module Vagrant
         use VM::ShareFolders
         use VM::Network
         use VM::Boot
-      end
-
-      register :start, start
+      end)
 
       # halt - Halts the VM, attempting gracefully but then forcing
       # a restart if fails.
-      halt = Builder.new do
+      register(:halt, Builder.new do
         use VM::DiscardState
         use VM::Halt
         use VM::DisableNetworks
-      end
-
-      register :halt, halt
+      end)
 
       # suspend - Suspends the VM
-      suspend = Builder.new do
+      register(:suspend, Builder.new do
         use VM::Suspend
-      end
-
-      register :suspend, suspend
+      end)
 
       # resume - Resume a VM
-      resume = Builder.new do
+      register(:resume, Builder.new do
         use VM::Resume
-      end
-
-      register :resume, resume
+      end)
 
       # reload - Halts then restarts the VM
-      reload = Builder.new do
+      register(:reload, Builder.new do
         use Action[:halt]
         use Action[:start]
-      end
-
-      register :reload, reload
+      end)
 
       # up - Imports, prepares, then starts a fresh VM.
-      up = Builder.new do
+      register(:up, Builder.new do
         use VM::CheckBox
         use VM::Import
         use VM::MatchMACAddress
         use VM::CheckGuestAdditions
         use Action[:start]
-      end
-
-      register :up, up
+      end)
 
       # destroy - Halts, cleans up, and destroys an existing VM
-      destroy = Builder.new do
+      register(:destroy, Builder.new do
         use Action[:halt], :force => true
         use VM::ClearNFSExports
         use VM::DestroyUnusedNetworkInterfaces
         use VM::Destroy
         use VM::CleanMachineFolder
-      end
-
-      register :destroy, destroy
+      end)
 
       # package - Export and package the VM
-      package = Builder.new do
+      register(:package, Builder.new do
         use Action[:halt]
         use VM::ClearForwardedPorts
         use VM::ClearSharedFolders
         use VM::Export
         use VM::PackageVagrantfile
         use VM::Package
-      end
-
-      register :package, package
+      end)
 
       # box_add - Download and add a box.
-      box_add = Builder.new do
+      register(:box_add, Builder.new do
         use Box::Download
         use Box::Unpackage
         use Box::Verify
-      end
-
-      register :box_add, box_add
+      end)
 
       # box_remove - Removes/deletes a box.
-      box_remove = Builder.new do
+      register(:box_remove, Builder.new do
         use Box::Destroy
-      end
-
-      register :box_remove, box_remove
+      end)
 
       # box_repackage - Repackages a box.
-      box_repackage = Builder.new do
+      register(:box_repackage, Builder.new do
         use Box::Package
-      end
+      end)
 
-      register :box_repackage, box_repackage
-
-      # post_load - Called after environment is loaded
-      environment_load = Builder.new do
-      end
-
-      register :environment_load, environment_load
+      # Other callbacks. There will be more of these in the future. For
+      # now, these are limited to what are needed internally.
+      register :environment_load, Builder.new
+      register(:before_action_run, Builder.new do
+        use General::Validate
+      end)
     end
   end
 end