diff --git a/builder/amazon/common/step_deregister_ami.go b/builder/amazon/common/step_deregister_ami.go
index 3ad8711aa..da0bc0cc4 100644
--- a/builder/amazon/common/step_deregister_ami.go
+++ b/builder/amazon/common/step_deregister_ami.go
@@ -18,68 +18,71 @@ type StepDeregisterAMI struct {
 }
 
 func (s *StepDeregisterAMI) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
+	// Check for force deregister
+	if !s.ForceDeregister {
+		return multistep.ActionContinue
+	}
+
 	ui := state.Get("ui").(packer.Ui)
+	ec2conn := state.Get("ec2").(*ec2.EC2)
 	regions := s.Regions
 	if len(regions) == 0 {
-		regions = append(regions, s.AccessConfig.RawRegion)
+		regions = append(regions, *ec2conn.Config.Region)
 	}
 
-	// Check for force deregister
-	if s.ForceDeregister {
-		for _, region := range regions {
-			// get new connection for each region in which we need to deregister vms
-			session, err := s.AccessConfig.Session()
-			if err != nil {
-				return multistep.ActionHalt
-			}
+	for _, region := range regions {
+		// get new connection for each region in which we need to deregister vms
+		session, err := s.AccessConfig.Session()
+		if err != nil {
+			return multistep.ActionHalt
+		}
+
+		regionconn := ec2.New(session.Copy(&aws.Config{
+			Region: aws.String(region)},
+		))
 
-			regionconn := ec2.New(session.Copy(&aws.Config{
-				Region: aws.String(region)},
-			))
+		resp, err := regionconn.DescribeImages(&ec2.DescribeImagesInput{
+			Filters: []*ec2.Filter{{
+				Name:   aws.String("name"),
+				Values: []*string{aws.String(s.AMIName)},
+			}}})
+
+		if err != nil {
+			err := fmt.Errorf("Error describing AMI: %s", err)
+			state.Put("error", err)
+			ui.Error(err.Error())
+			return multistep.ActionHalt
+		}
 
-			resp, err := regionconn.DescribeImages(&ec2.DescribeImagesInput{
-				Filters: []*ec2.Filter{{
-					Name:   aws.String("name"),
-					Values: []*string{aws.String(s.AMIName)},
-				}}})
+		// Deregister image(s) by name
+		for _, i := range resp.Images {
+			_, err := regionconn.DeregisterImage(&ec2.DeregisterImageInput{
+				ImageId: i.ImageId,
+			})
 
 			if err != nil {
-				err := fmt.Errorf("Error describing AMI: %s", err)
+				err := fmt.Errorf("Error deregistering existing AMI: %s", err)
 				state.Put("error", err)
 				ui.Error(err.Error())
 				return multistep.ActionHalt
 			}
+			ui.Say(fmt.Sprintf("Deregistered AMI %s, id: %s", s.AMIName, *i.ImageId))
 
-			// Deregister image(s) by name
-			for _, i := range resp.Images {
-				_, err := regionconn.DeregisterImage(&ec2.DeregisterImageInput{
-					ImageId: i.ImageId,
-				})
-
-				if err != nil {
-					err := fmt.Errorf("Error deregistering existing AMI: %s", err)
-					state.Put("error", err)
-					ui.Error(err.Error())
-					return multistep.ActionHalt
-				}
-				ui.Say(fmt.Sprintf("Deregistered AMI %s, id: %s", s.AMIName, *i.ImageId))
-
-				// Delete snapshot(s) by image
-				if s.ForceDeleteSnapshot {
-					for _, b := range i.BlockDeviceMappings {
-						if b.Ebs != nil && aws.StringValue(b.Ebs.SnapshotId) != "" {
-							_, err := regionconn.DeleteSnapshot(&ec2.DeleteSnapshotInput{
-								SnapshotId: b.Ebs.SnapshotId,
-							})
+			// Delete snapshot(s) by image
+			if s.ForceDeleteSnapshot {
+				for _, b := range i.BlockDeviceMappings {
+					if b.Ebs != nil && aws.StringValue(b.Ebs.SnapshotId) != "" {
+						_, err := regionconn.DeleteSnapshot(&ec2.DeleteSnapshotInput{
+							SnapshotId: b.Ebs.SnapshotId,
+						})
 
-							if err != nil {
-								err := fmt.Errorf("Error deleting existing snapshot: %s", err)
-								state.Put("error", err)
-								ui.Error(err.Error())
-								return multistep.ActionHalt
-							}
-							ui.Say(fmt.Sprintf("Deleted snapshot: %s", *b.Ebs.SnapshotId))
+						if err != nil {
+							err := fmt.Errorf("Error deleting existing snapshot: %s", err)
+							state.Put("error", err)
+							ui.Error(err.Error())
+							return multistep.ActionHalt
 						}
+						ui.Say(fmt.Sprintf("Deleted snapshot: %s", *b.Ebs.SnapshotId))
 					}
 				}
 			}