diff --git a/library/cloud/ec2_group b/library/cloud/ec2_group
index f15756c97ab..cf290c34746 100644
--- a/library/cloud/ec2_group
+++ b/library/cloud/ec2_group
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ options:
   rules:
     description:
       - List of firewall rules to enforce in this group (see example).
-    required: true
+    required: false
   region:
     description:
       - the EC2 region to use