diff --git a/libraries/ec2.rb b/libraries/ec2.rb
index 6e016619..3f202d0b 100644
--- a/libraries/ec2.rb
+++ b/libraries/ec2.rb
@@ -42,6 +42,12 @@ def find_snapshot_id(volume_id = '', find_most_recent = false)
       end
 
       def ec2
+        begin
+          require 'aws-sdk'
+        rescue LoadError
+          Chef::Log.error("Missing gem 'aws-sdk'. Use the default aws recipe to install it first.")
+        end
+
         @@ec2 ||= create_aws_interface(::Aws::EC2::Client)
       end
 
diff --git a/libraries/elb.rb b/libraries/elb.rb
index 2c2390bf..67a8d33f 100644
--- a/libraries/elb.rb
+++ b/libraries/elb.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ module Elb
       include Opscode::Aws::Ec2
 
       def elb
+        begin
+          require 'aws-sdk'
+        rescue LoadError
+          Chef::Log.error("Missing gem 'aws-sdk'. Use the default aws recipe to install it first.")
+        end
         @@elb ||= create_aws_interface(::Aws::ElasticLoadBalancing::Client)
       end
     end
diff --git a/libraries/s3.rb b/libraries/s3.rb
index 596cfb05..5492d283 100644
--- a/libraries/s3.rb
+++ b/libraries/s3.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ module S3
       include Opscode::Aws::Ec2
 
       def s3
+        begin
+          require 'aws-sdk'
+        rescue LoadError
+          Chef::Log.error("Missing gem 'aws-sdk'. Use the default aws recipe to install it first.")
+        end
         @@s3 ||= create_aws_interface(::Aws::S3::Client)
       end
     end