diff --git a/aws/resource_aws_service_discovery_private_dns_namespace_test.go b/aws/resource_aws_service_discovery_private_dns_namespace_test.go
index bac661832216..d79d6d309a11 100644
--- a/aws/resource_aws_service_discovery_private_dns_namespace_test.go
+++ b/aws/resource_aws_service_discovery_private_dns_namespace_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package aws
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws"
@@ -51,6 +52,26 @@ func TestAccAWSServiceDiscoveryPrivateDnsNamespace_longname(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+// This acceptance test ensures we properly send back error messaging. References:
+//  * https://github.com/terraform-providers/terraform-provider-aws/issues/2830
+//  * https://github.com/terraform-providers/terraform-provider-aws/issues/5532
+func TestAccAWSServiceDiscoveryPrivateDnsNamespace_error_Overlap(t *testing.T) {
+	rName := acctest.RandString(5) + ".example.com"
+	subDomain := acctest.RandString(5) + "." + rName
+
+	resource.ParallelTest(t, resource.TestCase{
+		PreCheck:     func() { testAccPreCheck(t) },
+		Providers:    testAccProviders,
+		CheckDestroy: testAccCheckAwsServiceDiscoveryPrivateDnsNamespaceDestroy,
+		Steps: []resource.TestStep{
+			{
+				Config:      testAccServiceDiscoveryPrivateDnsNamespaceConfigOverlapping(rName, subDomain),
+				ExpectError: regexp.MustCompile(`overlapping name space`),
+			},
+		},
+	})
+}
+
 func testAccCheckAwsServiceDiscoveryPrivateDnsNamespaceDestroy(s *terraform.State) error {
 	conn := testAccProvider.Meta().(*AWSClient).sdconn
 
@@ -101,3 +122,25 @@ resource "aws_service_discovery_private_dns_namespace" "test" {
 }
 `, rName)
 }
+
+func testAccServiceDiscoveryPrivateDnsNamespaceConfigOverlapping(topDomain, subDomain string) string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf(`
+resource "aws_vpc" "test" {
+  cidr_block = "10.0.0.0/16"
+  tags = {
+    Name = "terraform-testacc-service-discovery-private-dns-ns"
+  }
+}
+
+resource "aws_service_discovery_private_dns_namespace" "top" {
+  name = %q
+  vpc  = "${aws_vpc.test.id}"
+}
+
+# Ensure ordering after first namespace
+resource "aws_service_discovery_private_dns_namespace" "subdomain" {
+  name = %q
+  vpc  = "${aws_service_discovery_private_dns_namespace.top.vpc}"
+}
+`, topDomain, subDomain)
+}
diff --git a/aws/resource_aws_service_discovery_public_dns_namespace.go b/aws/resource_aws_service_discovery_public_dns_namespace.go
index 65a6bdce6fea..6020b071afc3 100644
--- a/aws/resource_aws_service_discovery_public_dns_namespace.go
+++ b/aws/resource_aws_service_discovery_public_dns_namespace.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package aws
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws"
@@ -138,9 +139,20 @@ func servicediscoveryOperationRefreshStatusFunc(conn *servicediscovery.ServiceDi
 			OperationId: aws.String(oid),
 		}
 		resp, err := conn.GetOperation(input)
+
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, "failed", err
+			return nil, servicediscovery.OperationStatusFail, err
 		}
-		return resp, *resp.Operation.Status, nil
+
+		// Error messages can also be contained in the response with FAIL status
+		//   "ErrorCode":"CANNOT_CREATE_HOSTED_ZONE",
+		//   "ErrorMessage":"The VPC that you chose, vpc-xxx in region xxx, is already associated with another private hosted zone that has an overlapping name space, xxx.. (Service: AmazonRoute53; Status Code: 400; Error Code: ConflictingDomainExists; Request ID: xxx)"
+		//   "Status":"FAIL",
+
+		if aws.StringValue(resp.Operation.Status) == servicediscovery.OperationStatusFail {
+			return resp, servicediscovery.OperationStatusFail, fmt.Errorf("%s: %s", aws.StringValue(resp.Operation.ErrorCode), aws.StringValue(resp.Operation.ErrorMessage))
+		}
+
+		return resp, aws.StringValue(resp.Operation.Status), nil
 	}
 }