diff --git a/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_lambda_function.go b/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_lambda_function.go
index dee086c6a..486f45d2e 100644
--- a/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_lambda_function.go
+++ b/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_lambda_function.go
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ func resourceAwsLambdaFunctionRead(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{}) err
 
 	getFunctionOutput, err := conn.GetFunction(params)
 	if err != nil {
-		if awsErr, ok := err.(awserr.Error); ok && awsErr.Code() == "ResourceNotFoundException" {
+		if awsErr, ok := err.(awserr.Error); ok && awsErr.Code() == "ResourceNotFoundException" && !d.IsNewResource() {
 			d.SetId("")
 			return nil
 		}