diff --git a/ec2/spark_ec2.py b/ec2/spark_ec2.py
index abab209a05ba0..73c89742cb156 100755
--- a/ec2/spark_ec2.py
+++ b/ec2/spark_ec2.py
@@ -569,6 +569,8 @@ def launch_cluster(conn, opts, cluster_name):
         master_nodes = master_res.instances
         print "Launched master in %s, regid = %s" % (zone, master_res.id)
 
+    # Wait for the information of the just-launched instances to be propagated within AWS
+    time.sleep(5)
     # Give the instances descriptive names
     for master in master_nodes:
         master.add_tag(