diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index 724a78144..80db548a7 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -41,12 +41,6 @@ type Config struct {
 	unknownKeys []string
 }
 
-// Terraform is the Terraform meta-configuration that can be present
-// in configuration files for configuring Terraform itself.
-type Terraform struct {
-	RequiredVersion string `hcl:"required_version"` // Required Terraform version (constraint)
-}
-
 // AtlasConfig is the configuration for building in HashiCorp's Atlas.
 type AtlasConfig struct {
 	Name    string
diff --git a/config/config_string.go b/config/config_string.go
index a5ef7d5cd..0b3abbcd5 100644
--- a/config/config_string.go
+++ b/config/config_string.go
@@ -50,6 +50,26 @@ func (c *Config) TestString() string {
 	return strings.TrimSpace(buf.String())
 }
 
+func terraformStr(t *Terraform) string {
+	result := ""
+
+	if b := t.Backend; b != nil {
+		result += fmt.Sprintf("backend (%s)\n", b.Type)
+
+		keys := make([]string, 0, len(b.RawConfig.Raw))
+		for k, _ := range b.RawConfig.Raw {
+			keys = append(keys, k)
+		}
+		sort.Strings(keys)
+
+		for _, k := range keys {
+			result += fmt.Sprintf("  %s\n", k)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return strings.TrimSpace(result)
+}
+
 func modulesStr(ms []*Module) string {
 	result := ""
 	order := make([]int, 0, len(ms))
diff --git a/config/config_terraform.go b/config/config_terraform.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..272fa62c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/config_terraform.go
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"github.com/mitchellh/hashstructure"
+)
+
+// Terraform is the Terraform meta-configuration that can be present
+// in configuration files for configuring Terraform itself.
+type Terraform struct {
+	RequiredVersion string   `hcl:"required_version"` // Required Terraform version (constraint)
+	Backend         *Backend // See Backend struct docs
+}
+
+// Backend is the configuration for the "backend" to use with Terraform.
+// A backend is responsible for all major behavior of Terraform's core.
+// The abstraction layer above the core (the "backend") allows for behavior
+// such as remote operation.
+type Backend struct {
+	Type      string
+	RawConfig *RawConfig
+
+	// Hash is a unique hash code representing the original configuration
+	// of the backend. This won't be recomputed unless Rehash is called.
+	Hash uint64
+}
+
+// Hash returns a unique content hash for this backend's configuration
+// as a uint64 value.
+func (b *Backend) Rehash() uint64 {
+	// If we have no backend, the value is zero
+	if b == nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+
+	// Use hashstructure to hash only our type with the config.
+	code, err := hashstructure.Hash(map[string]interface{}{
+		"type":   b.Type,
+		"config": b.RawConfig.Raw,
+	}, nil)
+
+	// This should never happen since we have just some basic primitives
+	// so panic if there is an error.
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+
+	return code
+}
diff --git a/config/config_terraform_test.go b/config/config_terraform_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e0da63e9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/config_terraform_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestBackendHash(t *testing.T) {
+	// WARNING: The codes below should _never_ change. If they change, it
+	// means that a future TF version may falsely recognize unchanged backend
+	// configuration as changed. Ultimately this should have no adverse
+	// affect but it is annoying for users and should be avoided if possible.
+
+	cases := []struct {
+		Name    string
+		Fixture string
+		Code    uint64
+	}{
+		{
+			"no backend config",
+			"backend-hash-empty",
+			0,
+		},
+
+		{
+			"backend config with only type",
+			"backend-hash-type-only",
+			17852588448730441876,
+		},
+
+		{
+			"backend config with type and config",
+			"backend-hash-basic",
+			10288498853650209002,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for i, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%d-%s", i, tc.Name), func(t *testing.T) {
+			c := testConfig(t, tc.Fixture)
+			err := c.Validate()
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
+			}
+
+			var actual uint64
+			if c.Terraform != nil && c.Terraform.Backend != nil {
+				actual = c.Terraform.Backend.Hash
+			}
+			if actual != tc.Code {
+				t.Fatalf("bad: %d != %d", actual, tc.Code)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/config/loader_hcl.go b/config/loader_hcl.go
index dfadce9d6..8e0d62c7b 100644
--- a/config/loader_hcl.go
+++ b/config/loader_hcl.go
@@ -209,6 +209,14 @@ func loadTerraformHcl(list *ast.ObjectList) (*Terraform, error) {
 	// Get our one item
 	item := list.Items[0]
 
+	// We need the item value as an ObjectList
+	var listVal *ast.ObjectList
+	if ot, ok := item.Val.(*ast.ObjectType); ok {
+		listVal = ot.List
+	} else {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("terraform block: should be an object")
+	}
+
 	// NOTE: We purposely don't validate unknown HCL keys here so that
 	// we can potentially read _future_ Terraform version config (to
 	// still be able to validate the required version).
@@ -223,9 +231,62 @@ func loadTerraformHcl(list *ast.ObjectList) (*Terraform, error) {
 			err)
 	}
 
+	// If we have provisioners, then parse those out
+	if os := listVal.Filter("backend"); len(os.Items) > 0 {
+		var err error
+		config.Backend, err = loadTerraformBackendHcl(os)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf(
+				"Error reading backend config for terraform block: %s",
+				err)
+		}
+	}
+
 	return &config, nil
 }
 
+// Loads the Backend configuration from an object list.
+func loadTerraformBackendHcl(list *ast.ObjectList) (*Backend, error) {
+	if len(list.Items) > 1 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("only one 'backend' block allowed")
+	}
+
+	// Get our one item
+	item := list.Items[0]
+
+	// Verify the keys
+	if len(item.Keys) != 1 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf(
+			"position %s: 'backend' must be followed by exactly one string: a type",
+			item.Pos())
+	}
+
+	typ := item.Keys[0].Token.Value().(string)
+
+	// Decode the raw config
+	var config map[string]interface{}
+	if err := hcl.DecodeObject(&config, item.Val); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf(
+			"Error reading backend config: %s",
+			err)
+	}
+
+	rawConfig, err := NewRawConfig(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf(
+			"Error reading backend config: %s",
+			err)
+	}
+
+	b := &Backend{
+		Type:      typ,
+		RawConfig: rawConfig,
+	}
+	b.Hash = b.Rehash()
+
+	return b, nil
+}
+
 // Given a handle to a HCL object, this transforms it into the Atlas
 // configuration.
 func loadAtlasHcl(list *ast.ObjectList) (*AtlasConfig, error) {
diff --git a/config/loader_test.go b/config/loader_test.go
index 80c0d8d1f..f49ce48c1 100644
--- a/config/loader_test.go
+++ b/config/loader_test.go
@@ -334,6 +334,43 @@ func TestLoadFile_outputDependsOn(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestLoadFile_terraformBackend(t *testing.T) {
+	c, err := LoadFile(filepath.Join(fixtureDir, "terraform-backend.tf"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	if c == nil {
+		t.Fatal("config should not be nil")
+	}
+
+	if c.Dir != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", c.Dir)
+	}
+
+	{
+		actual := terraformStr(c.Terraform)
+		expected := strings.TrimSpace(`
+backend (s3)
+  foo`)
+		if actual != expected {
+			t.Fatalf("bad:\n%s", actual)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadFile_terraformBackendMulti(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := LoadFile(filepath.Join(fixtureDir, "terraform-backend-multi.tf"))
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error")
+	}
+
+	errorStr := err.Error()
+	if !strings.Contains(errorStr, "only one 'backend'") {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: expected error has wrong text: %s", errorStr)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestLoadJSONBasic(t *testing.T) {
 	raw, err := ioutil.ReadFile(filepath.Join(fixtureDir, "basic.tf.json"))
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/config/module/testing.go b/config/module/testing.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fc9e7331a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/module/testing.go
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package module
+
+import (
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/hashicorp/go-getter"
+)
+
+// TestTree loads a module at the given path and returns the tree as well
+// as a function that should be deferred to clean up resources.
+func TestTree(t *testing.T, path string) (*Tree, func()) {
+	// Create a temporary directory for module storage
+	dir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "tf")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	// Load the module
+	mod, err := NewTreeModule("", path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	// Get the child modules
+	s := &getter.FolderStorage{StorageDir: dir}
+	if err := mod.Load(s, GetModeGet); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	return mod, func() {
+		os.RemoveAll(dir)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/config/test-fixtures/backend-hash-basic/main.tf b/config/test-fixtures/backend-hash-basic/main.tf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cf0fdfc1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/test-fixtures/backend-hash-basic/main.tf
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+terraform {
+    backend "foo" {
+        foo = "bar"
+        bar = ["baz"]
+        map = { a = "b" }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/config/test-fixtures/backend-hash-empty/main.tf b/config/test-fixtures/backend-hash-empty/main.tf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..75db79290
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/test-fixtures/backend-hash-empty/main.tf
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+terraform {}
diff --git a/config/test-fixtures/backend-hash-no-terraform/main.tf b/config/test-fixtures/backend-hash-no-terraform/main.tf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b7db25411
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/test-fixtures/backend-hash-no-terraform/main.tf
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+# Empty
diff --git a/config/test-fixtures/backend-hash-type-only/main.tf b/config/test-fixtures/backend-hash-type-only/main.tf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ea3d6a3bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/test-fixtures/backend-hash-type-only/main.tf
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+terraform {
+    backend "foo" {
+    }
+}
diff --git a/config/test-fixtures/terraform-backend-multi.tf b/config/test-fixtures/terraform-backend-multi.tf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..777ba5550
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/test-fixtures/terraform-backend-multi.tf
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+terraform {
+  backend "s3" {}
+  backend "s4" {}
+}
diff --git a/config/test-fixtures/terraform-backend.tf b/config/test-fixtures/terraform-backend.tf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..44187c8d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/test-fixtures/terraform-backend.tf
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+terraform {
+  backend "s3" {
+    foo = "bar"
+  }
+}