diff --git a/builder/amazon/common/step_run_source_instance.go b/builder/amazon/common/step_run_source_instance.go
index 43a63493f..aba0e9ab5 100644
--- a/builder/amazon/common/step_run_source_instance.go
+++ b/builder/amazon/common/step_run_source_instance.go
@@ -175,19 +175,18 @@ func (s *StepRunSourceInstance) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepActi
 	ui.Message(fmt.Sprintf("Instance ID: %s", instanceId))
 	ui.Say(fmt.Sprintf("Waiting for instance (%v) to become ready...", instanceId))
 
-	describeInstanceStatus := &ec2.DescribeInstanceStatusInput{
+	describeInstance := &ec2.DescribeInstancesInput{
 		InstanceIds: []*string{aws.String(instanceId)},
 	}
-	if err := ec2conn.WaitUntilInstanceStatusOk(describeInstanceStatus); err != nil {
+	if err := ec2conn.WaitUntilInstanceRunning(describeInstance); err != nil {
 		err := fmt.Errorf("Error waiting for instance (%s) to become ready: %s", instanceId, err)
 		state.Put("error", err)
 		ui.Error(err.Error())
 		return multistep.ActionHalt
 	}
 
-	r, err := ec2conn.DescribeInstances(&ec2.DescribeInstancesInput{
-		InstanceIds: []*string{aws.String(instanceId)},
-	})
+	r, err := ec2conn.DescribeInstances(describeInstance)
+
 	if err != nil || len(r.Reservations) == 0 || len(r.Reservations[0].Instances) == 0 {
 		err := fmt.Errorf("Error finding source instance.")
 		state.Put("error", err)
diff --git a/builder/amazon/common/step_run_spot_instance.go b/builder/amazon/common/step_run_spot_instance.go
index 323032de0..27938ece6 100644
--- a/builder/amazon/common/step_run_spot_instance.go
+++ b/builder/amazon/common/step_run_spot_instance.go
@@ -231,10 +231,10 @@ func (s *StepRunSpotInstance) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction
 
 	ui.Message(fmt.Sprintf("Instance ID: %s", instanceId))
 	ui.Say(fmt.Sprintf("Waiting for instance (%v) to become ready...", instanceId))
-	describeInstanceStatus := &ec2.DescribeInstanceStatusInput{
+	describeInstance := &ec2.DescribeInstancesInput{
 		InstanceIds: []*string{aws.String(instanceId)},
 	}
-	if err := ec2conn.WaitUntilInstanceStatusOk(describeInstanceStatus); err != nil {
+	if err := ec2conn.WaitUntilInstanceRunning(describeInstance); err != nil {
 		err := fmt.Errorf("Error waiting for instance (%s) to become ready: %s", instanceId, err)
 		state.Put("error", err)
 		ui.Error(err.Error())
diff --git a/website/source/docs/builders/amazon.html.md b/website/source/docs/builders/amazon.html.md
index e77e4bf79..8873dfcbe 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/builders/amazon.html.md
+++ b/website/source/docs/builders/amazon.html.md
@@ -115,7 +115,6 @@ Packer to work:
         "ec2:DeregisterImage",
         "ec2:DescribeImageAttribute",
         "ec2:DescribeImages",
-        "ec2:DescribeInstanceStatus",
         "ec2:DescribeInstances",
         "ec2:DescribeRegions",
         "ec2:DescribeSecurityGroups",