diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index f5120d3..3f515a6 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
     deployConfig = project.hasProperty('deployConfig') ? project.getProperty('deployConfig') : './config/default.yml'
 
     dockerPath = project.hasProperty('dockerPath') ? project.getProperty('dockerPath') : '/usr/bin'
+
+    vboxUser = project.hasProperty('vboxUser') ? project.getProperty('vboxUser') : 'cord'
 }
 
 task buildBootstrapImage(type: Exec) {
@@ -219,6 +221,10 @@
 	    .p(config.seedServer.external_ip, "external_ip")
     }
 
+    if (vboxUser != "") {
+        extraVars = extraVars.p(vboxUser, "power_helper_user")
+    }
+
     if (config.otherServers) {
         extraVars = extraVars.p(config.otherServers.location, "prov_location")
         .p(config.otherServers.rolesPath, "prov_role_path")