diff --git a/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/aws.go b/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/aws.go
index 8d9ed7a848c..b7c41ae89e4 100644
--- a/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/aws.go
+++ b/pkg/cloudprovider/aws/aws.go
@@ -784,7 +784,7 @@ func (self *awsDisk) waitForAttachmentStatus(status string) error {
 		if len(info.Attachments) > 1 {
 			glog.Warningf("Found multiple attachments for volume: %v", info)
 		}
-		attachmentStatus := ""
+		attachmentStatus := "detached"
 		for _, attachment := range info.Attachments {
 			if attachment.Status == status {
 				return nil