diff --git a/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_instance.go b/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_instance.go
index 87f31d695..05ebbbb3c 100644
--- a/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_instance.go
+++ b/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_instance.go
@@ -138,6 +138,12 @@ func resourceAwsInstance() *schema.Resource {
 							ForceNew: true,
 						},
 
+						"virtual_name": &schema.Schema{
+							Type:     schema.TypeString,
+							Optional: true,
+							ForceNew: true,
+						},
+
 						"snapshot_id": &schema.Schema{
 							Type:     schema.TypeString,
 							Optional: true,
@@ -227,6 +233,7 @@ func resourceAwsInstanceCreate(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{}) error {
 			for i, v := range vs {
 				bd := v.(map[string]interface{})
 				runOpts.BlockDevices[i].DeviceName = bd["device_name"].(string)
+				runOpts.BlockDevices[i].VirtualName = bd["virtual_name"].(string)
 				runOpts.BlockDevices[i].SnapshotId = bd["snapshot_id"].(string)
 				runOpts.BlockDevices[i].VolumeType = bd["volume_type"].(string)
 				runOpts.BlockDevices[i].VolumeSize = int64(bd["volume_size"].(int))
diff --git a/website/source/docs/providers/aws/r/instance.html.markdown b/website/source/docs/providers/aws/r/instance.html.markdown
index 8ad171d8e..66d9c9cac 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/providers/aws/r/instance.html.markdown
+++ b/website/source/docs/providers/aws/r/instance.html.markdown
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ The following arguments are supported:
 Each `block_device` supports the following:
 
 * `device_name` - The name of the device to mount.
+* `virtual_name` - (Optional) The virtual device name.
 * `snapshot_id` - (Optional) The Snapshot ID to mount.
 * `volume_type` - (Optional) The type of volume. Can be standard, gp2, or io1. Defaults to standard.
 * `volume_size` - (Optional) The size of the volume in gigabytes.