diff --git a/client.go b/client.go
index 1832f17b0..ff759a5d7 100644
--- a/client.go
+++ b/client.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
 	urlhelper "github.com/hashicorp/go-getter/helper/url"
@@ -126,6 +127,12 @@ func (c *Client) Get() error {
 	if archiveV != "" {
 		q.Del("archive")
 		u.RawQuery = q.Encode()
+
+		// If we can parse the value as a bool and it is false, then
+		// set the archive to "-" which should never map to a decompressor
+		if b, err := strconv.ParseBool(archiveV); err == nil && !b {
+			archiveV = "-"
+		}
 	}
 	if archiveV == "" {
 		// We don't appear to... but is it part of the filename?
diff --git a/get_test.go b/get_test.go
index 523a41296..fc758df54 100644
--- a/get_test.go
+++ b/get_test.go
@@ -137,6 +137,23 @@ func TestGetFile_archiveChecksum(t *testing.T) {
 	assertContents(t, dst, "Hello\n")
 }
 
+func TestGetFile_archiveNoUnarchive(t *testing.T) {
+	dst := tempFile(t)
+	u := testModule("basic-file-archive/archive.tar.gz")
+	u += "?archive=false"
+
+	if err := GetFile(dst, u); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	// Verify the main file exists
+	actual := testMD5(t, dst)
+	expected := "fbd90037dacc4b1ab40811d610dde2f0"
+	if actual != expected {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %s", actual)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestGetFile_checksum(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := []struct {
 		Append string