diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7756faed6..8263a0ee7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ IMPROVEMENTS:
 
 BUG FIXES:
 
+* builder/amazon/ebs,instance: Retry deleing security group a few times.
+  [GH-278]
 * builder/vmware: Workstation works on Windows XP now. [GH-238]
 * builder/vmware: Look for files on Windows in multiple locations
   using multiple environmental variables. [GH-263]
diff --git a/builder/amazon/common/step_security_group.go b/builder/amazon/common/step_security_group.go
index 5b01a68f1..04c9b9dcf 100644
--- a/builder/amazon/common/step_security_group.go
+++ b/builder/amazon/common/step_security_group.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/mitchellh/multistep"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/packer/packer"
 	"log"
+	"time"
 )
 
 type StepSecurityGroup struct {
@@ -83,9 +84,18 @@ func (s *StepSecurityGroup) Cleanup(state map[string]interface{}) {
 	ui := state["ui"].(packer.Ui)
 
 	ui.Say("Deleting temporary security group...")
-	_, err := ec2conn.DeleteSecurityGroup(ec2.SecurityGroup{Id: s.createdGroupId})
+
+	var err error
+	for i := 0; i < 5; i++ {
+		_, err = ec2conn.DeleteSecurityGroup(ec2.SecurityGroup{Id: s.createdGroupId})
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Printf("Error deleting security group: %s", err)
+			time.Sleep(5 * time.Second)
+			continue
+		}
+	}
+
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Printf("Error deleting security group: %s", err)
 		ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf(
 			"Error cleaning up security group. Please delete the group manually: %s", s.createdGroupId))
 	}