diff --git a/pkg/machine/qemu/machine.go b/pkg/machine/qemu/machine.go
index 783d917b68..d412ca82c4 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/qemu/machine.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/qemu/machine.go
@@ -599,27 +599,47 @@ func (v *MachineVM) Start(name string, opts machine.StartOptions) error {
 			_ = v.writeConfig()
 		}
 	}
-	if len(v.Mounts) > 0 {
-		connected := false
-		backoff = 500 * time.Millisecond
-		for i := 0; i < maxBackoffs; i++ {
-			if i > 0 {
-				time.Sleep(backoff)
-				backoff *= 2
-			}
-			state, err := v.State(true)
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-			if state == machine.Running && v.isListening() {
-				connected = true
-				break
-			}
+	if len(v.Mounts) == 0 {
+		v.waitAPIAndPrintInfo(forwardState, forwardSock, opts.NoInfo)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	connected := false
+	backoff = defaultBackoff
+	var sshError error
+	for i := 0; i < maxBackoffs; i++ {
+		if i > 0 {
+			time.Sleep(backoff)
+			backoff *= 2
 		}
-		if !connected {
-			return fmt.Errorf("machine did not transition into running state")
+		state, err := v.State(true)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if state == machine.Running && v.isListening() {
+			// Also make sure that SSH is up and running.  The
+			// ready service's dependencies don't fully make sure
+			// that clients can SSH into the machine immediately
+			// after boot.
+			//
+			// CoreOS users have reported the same observation but
+			// the underlying source of the issue remains unknown.
+			if sshError = v.SSH(name, machine.SSHOptions{Args: []string{"true"}}); sshError != nil {
+				logrus.Debugf("SSH readiness check for machine failed: %v", sshError)
+				continue
+			}
+			connected = true
+			break
 		}
 	}
+	if !connected {
+		msg := "machine did not transition into running state"
+		if sshError != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s: ssh error: %v", msg, sshError)
+		}
+		return errors.New(msg)
+	}
+
 	for _, mount := range v.Mounts {
 		if !opts.Quiet {
 			fmt.Printf("Mounting volume... %s:%s\n", mount.Source, mount.Target)