diff --git a/lib/vagrant/box_collection/remote.rb b/lib/vagrant/box_collection/remote.rb
index a2f3f4dd2..7644b991d 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/box_collection/remote.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/box_collection/remote.rb
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ module Vagrant
           raise ArgumentError,
             "Remote client is required for `#{self.class.name}'"
         end
-
-        @directory = directory
         @hook      = options[:hook]
         @logger    = Log4r::Logger.new("vagrant::box_collection")
       end
diff --git a/lib/vagrant/environment/remote.rb b/lib/vagrant/environment/remote.rb
index 51fe42ea3..c52300502 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/environment/remote.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/environment/remote.rb
@@ -68,6 +68,14 @@ module Vagrant
         hook(:environment_load, runner: Action::Runner.new(env: self))
       end
 
+      # Returns the collection of boxes for the environment.
+      #
+      # @return [BoxCollection]
+      def boxes
+        box_colletion_client = client.boxes
+        @_boxes ||= BoxCollection.new(nil, client: box_colletion_client)
+      end
+
       # Returns the host object associated with this environment.
       #
       # @return [Class]
diff --git a/plugins/commands/serve/client/project.rb b/plugins/commands/serve/client/project.rb
index 368dec1ce..2f677b294 100644
--- a/plugins/commands/serve/client/project.rb
+++ b/plugins/commands/serve/client/project.rb
@@ -5,6 +5,14 @@ module VagrantPlugins
         prepend Util::ClientSetup
         prepend Util::HasLogger
 
+        # return [VagrantPlugins::CommandServe::Client::BoxCollection]
+        def boxes
+          BoxCollection.load(
+            client.boxes(Empty.new),
+            broker: broker
+          )
+        end
+
         # return [String]
         def cache_dir
           data_dirs.cache_dir