diff --git a/cluster/aws/config-default.sh b/cluster/aws/config-default.sh
index e8ed83338ec..7b95aa6fa3a 100644
--- a/cluster/aws/config-default.sh
+++ b/cluster/aws/config-default.sh
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ ADMISSION_CONTROL=NamespaceLifecycle,LimitRanger,SecurityContextDeny,ServiceAcco
 ENABLE_NODE_PUBLIC_IP=${KUBE_ENABLE_NODE_PUBLIC_IP:-true}
 
 # OS options for minions
-KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION="${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-vivid}"
+KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION="${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-jessie}"
 KUBE_NODE_IMAGE="${KUBE_NODE_IMAGE:-}"
 COREOS_CHANNEL="${COREOS_CHANNEL:-alpha}"
 CONTAINER_RUNTIME="${KUBE_CONTAINER_RUNTIME:-docker}"
diff --git a/cluster/aws/config-test.sh b/cluster/aws/config-test.sh
index a105b7d8a21..adbb1ec4b9d 100755
--- a/cluster/aws/config-test.sh
+++ b/cluster/aws/config-test.sh
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ ADMISSION_CONTROL=NamespaceLifecycle,LimitRanger,SecurityContextDeny,ServiceAcco
 ENABLE_NODE_PUBLIC_IP=${KUBE_ENABLE_NODE_PUBLIC_IP:-true}
 
 # OS options for minions
-KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION="${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-vivid}"
+KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION="${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION:-jessie}"
 KUBE_NODE_IMAGE="${KUBE_NODE_IMAGE:-}"
 COREOS_CHANNEL="${COREOS_CHANNEL:-alpha}"
 CONTAINER_RUNTIME="${KUBE_CONTAINER_RUNTIME:-docker}"
diff --git a/cluster/aws/options.md b/cluster/aws/options.md
index 358c9e30caf..3a1837cfbe6 100644
--- a/cluster/aws/options.md
+++ b/cluster/aws/options.md
@@ -79,14 +79,24 @@ If your machines don't have any ephemeral disks, this will default to the aufs d
 
 **KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION**
 
-The distribution to use.  Valid options: `trusty`, `vivid`, `coreos`, `wheezy`, `jessie`
+The distribution to use.  Defaults to `jessie`
 
-Defaults to vivid (Ubuntu Vivid Vervet), which has a modern kernel and does not require updating or a reboot.
+Supported options:
 
-`coreos` is also a good option.
+* `jessie`: Debian Jessie, running a custom kubernetes-optimized image.  Should
+  be supported until 2018 by the debian-security team, and until 2020 by the
+  debian-LTS team.
+* `wily`: Ubuntu Wily.  Wily is not an LTS release, and OS support is due to
+  end in July 2016.
+* `vivid`: Ubuntu Vivid.  Vivid OS support ended in early February 2016.
 
-Other options may require reboots, updates or configuration, and should be used only if you have a compelling
-requirement to do so.
+Given the support situation, we recommend using Debian Jessie.  In Kubernetes
+1.3 Ubuntu should have their next LTS release out, so we should be able to
+recommend Ubuntu again at that time.
+
+Using kube-up with other operating systems is neither supported nor
+recommended.  But we would welcome increased OS support for kube-up, so please
+contribute!
 
 **NON_MASQUERADE_CIDR**
 
diff --git a/cluster/aws/util.sh b/cluster/aws/util.sh
index 882858ebb6e..c413b23c3db 100755
--- a/cluster/aws/util.sh
+++ b/cluster/aws/util.sh
@@ -48,9 +48,9 @@ MASTER_DISK_ID=
 # Well known tags
 TAG_KEY_MASTER_IP="kubernetes.io/master-ip"
 
-# Defaults: ubuntu -> vivid
+# Defaults: ubuntu -> wily
 if [[ "${KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION}" == "ubuntu" ]]; then
-  KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION=vivid
+  KUBE_OS_DISTRIBUTION=wily
 fi
 
 # For GCE script compatibility