diff --git a/aws/resource_aws_appmesh_virtual_node.go b/aws/resource_aws_appmesh_virtual_node.go
index 0222722a4fc..e9db5cbc328 100644
--- a/aws/resource_aws_appmesh_virtual_node.go
+++ b/aws/resource_aws_appmesh_virtual_node.go
@@ -68,8 +68,7 @@ func resourceAwsAppmeshVirtualNode() *schema.Resource {
 								Schema: map[string]*schema.Schema{
 									"virtual_service": {
 										Type:     schema.TypeList,
-										Optional: true,
-										MinItems: 0,
+										Required: true,
 										MaxItems: 1,
 										Elem: &schema.Resource{
 											Schema: map[string]*schema.Schema{
diff --git a/website/docs/r/appmesh_virtual_node.html.markdown b/website/docs/r/appmesh_virtual_node.html.markdown
index 47e6f7d6051..c0f859d4adb 100644
--- a/website/docs/r/appmesh_virtual_node.html.markdown
+++ b/website/docs/r/appmesh_virtual_node.html.markdown
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ The `spec` object supports the following:
 
 The `backend` object supports the following:
 
-* `virtual_service` - (Optional) Specifies a virtual service to use as a backend for a virtual node.
+* `virtual_service` - (Required) Specifies a virtual service to use as a backend for a virtual node.
 
 The `virtual_service` object supports the following: