diff --git a/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_nat_gateway.go b/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_nat_gateway.go
index 4ad23ad8f5..1ec5e986e6 100644
--- a/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_nat_gateway.go
+++ b/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_nat_gateway.go
@@ -101,7 +101,14 @@ func resourceAwsNatGatewayRead(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{}) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if ngRaw == nil || strings.ToLower(state) == "deleted" {
+
+	status := map[string]bool{
+		"deleted":  true,
+		"deleting": true,
+		"failed":   true,
+	}
+
+	if _, ok := status[strings.ToLower(state)]; ngRaw == nil || ok {
 		log.Printf("[INFO] Removing %s from Terraform state as it is not found or in the deleted state.", d.Id())
 		d.SetId("")
 		return nil
diff --git a/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_nat_gateway_test.go b/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_nat_gateway_test.go
index c4dd8b6f68..dac50527c4 100644
--- a/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_nat_gateway_test.go
+++ b/builtin/providers/aws/resource_aws_nat_gateway_test.go
@@ -44,7 +44,12 @@ func testAccCheckNatGatewayDestroy(s *terraform.State) error {
 			NatGatewayIds: []*string{aws.String(rs.Primary.ID)},
 		})
 		if err == nil {
-			if len(resp.NatGateways) > 0 && strings.ToLower(*resp.NatGateways[0].State) != "deleted" {
+			status := map[string]bool{
+				"deleted":  true,
+				"deleting": true,
+				"failed":   true,
+			}
+			if _, ok := status[strings.ToLower(*resp.NatGateways[0].State)]; len(resp.NatGateways) > 0 && !ok {
 				return fmt.Errorf("still exists")
 			}