diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/ec2.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/ec2.py
index 30d53881ad6..2e45ef1b0e3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/ec2.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/ec2.py
@@ -104,9 +104,13 @@ class AWSRetry(CloudRetry):
 def boto3_conn(module, conn_type=None, resource=None, region=None, endpoint=None, **params):
     try:
         return _boto3_conn(conn_type=conn_type, resource=resource, region=region, endpoint=endpoint, **params)
-    except ValueError:
-        module.fail_json(msg='There is an issue in the code of the module. You must specify either both, resource or client to the conn_type '
-                             'parameter in the boto3_conn function call')
+    except ValueError as e:
+        module.fail_json(msg="Couldn't connect to AWS: " % to_native(e))
+    except (botocore.exceptions.ProfileNotFound, botocore.exceptions.PartialCredentialsError) as e:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_native(e))
+    except botocore.exceptions.NoRegionError as e:
+        module.fail_json(msg="The %s module requires a region and none was found in configuration, "
+                         "environment variables or module parameters" % module._name)
 
 
 def _boto3_conn(conn_type=None, resource=None, region=None, endpoint=None, **params):
@@ -129,6 +133,7 @@ def _boto3_conn(conn_type=None, resource=None, region=None, endpoint=None, **par
         resource = boto3.session.Session(profile_name=profile).resource(resource, region_name=region, endpoint_url=endpoint, **params)
         return client, resource
 
+
 boto3_inventory_conn = _boto3_conn
 
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/GUIDELINES.md b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/GUIDELINES.md
index a24777fd1d2..8e725d23fe3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/GUIDELINES.md
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/GUIDELINES.md
@@ -129,13 +129,14 @@ To connect to AWS, you should use `get_aws_connection_info` and then `boto3_conn
 These functions handle some of the more esoteric connection options, such as security tokens and
 boto profiles.
 
-Some boto services require that the region is specified. You should check for the region parameter
-if required.
 
 #### boto
 
 An example of connecting to ec2:
 
+Some boto services require that the region is specified. You should check for the region parameter
+if required.
+
 ```python
 region, ec2_url, aws_connect_params = get_aws_connection_info(module)
 if region:
@@ -153,13 +154,12 @@ An example of connecting to ec2 is shown below.  Note that there is no `NoAuthHa
 exception handling like in boto.  Instead, an `AuthFailure` exception will be thrown when you use
 'connection'. To ensure that authorization, parameter validation and permissions errors are all
 caught, you should catch `ClientError` and `BotoCoreError` exceptions with every boto3 connection call.
+See exception handling. module_utils.ec2 checks for missing profiles or a region not set when it needs to be,
+so you don't have to.
 
 ```python
 region, ec2_url, aws_connect_params = get_aws_connection_info(module, boto3=True)
-if region:
-    connection = boto3_conn(module, conn_type='client', resource='ec2', region=region, endpoint=ec2_url, **aws_connect_params)
-else:
-    module.fail_json(msg="region must be specified")
+connection = boto3_conn(module, conn_type='client', resource='ec2', region=region, endpoint=ec2_url, **aws_connect_params)
 ```
 
 ### Exception Handling for boto
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_acm_facts.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_acm_facts.py
index 6e435df5329..c79bf230d62 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_acm_facts.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_acm_facts.py
@@ -315,12 +315,9 @@ def main():
     if not HAS_BOTO3:
         module.fail_json('boto3 and botocore are required by this module')
 
-    try:
-        region, ec2_url, aws_connect_kwargs = get_aws_connection_info(module, boto3=True)
-        client = boto3_conn(module, conn_type='client', resource='acm',
-                            region=region, endpoint=ec2_url, **aws_connect_kwargs)
-    except (botocore.exceptions.NoCredentialsError, botocore.exceptions.ProfileNotFound) as e:
-        module.fail_json(msg="Can't authorize connection - " + str(e))
+    region, ec2_url, aws_connect_kwargs = get_aws_connection_info(module, boto3=True)
+    client = boto3_conn(module, conn_type='client', resource='acm',
+                        region=region, endpoint=ec2_url, **aws_connect_kwargs)
 
     certificates = get_certificates(client, module, name=module.params['name'], statuses=module.params['statuses'])
     module.exit_json(certificates=certificates)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_s3.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_s3.py
index a57c383faed..b791028a7ea 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_s3.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_s3.py
@@ -671,10 +671,7 @@ def main():
     if s3_url:
         for key in ['validate_certs', 'security_token', 'profile_name']:
             aws_connect_kwargs.pop(key, None)
-    try:
-        s3 = get_s3_connection(module, aws_connect_kwargs, location, rgw, s3_url)
-    except botocore.exceptions.ProfileNotFound as e:
-        module.fail_json(msg=to_native(e))
+    s3 = get_s3_connection(module, aws_connect_kwargs, location, rgw, s3_url)
 
     validate = not ignore_nonexistent_bucket
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_s3_bucket_facts.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_s3_bucket_facts.py
index 0b5ae12cc16..ba1f2776251 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_s3_bucket_facts.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/aws_s3_bucket_facts.py
@@ -90,16 +90,8 @@ def main():
 
     # Set up connection
     region, ec2_url, aws_connect_params = get_aws_connection_info(module, boto3=HAS_BOTO3)
-
-    # Set up connection
-    if region:
-        try:
-            connection = boto3_conn(module, conn_type='client', resource='s3', region=region, endpoint=ec2_url,
-                                    **aws_connect_params)
-        except (botocore.exceptions.NoCredentialsError, botocore.exceptions.ProfileNotFound) as e:
-            module.fail_json(msg=e.message, exception=traceback.format_exc(), **camel_dict_to_snake_dict(e.response))
-    else:
-        module.fail_json(msg="AWS region must be specified (like: us-east-1)")
+    connection = boto3_conn(module, conn_type='client', resource='s3', region=region, endpoint=ec2_url,
+                            **aws_connect_params)
 
     # Gather results
     result['buckets'] = get_bucket_list(module, connection)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/cloudwatchevent_rule.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/cloudwatchevent_rule.py
index bb16223524e..05b9784be79 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/cloudwatchevent_rule.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/cloudwatchevent_rule.py
@@ -395,19 +395,11 @@ class CloudWatchEventRuleManager(object):
 
 def get_cloudwatchevents_client(module):
     """Returns a boto3 client for accessing CloudWatch Events"""
-    try:
-        region, ec2_url, aws_conn_kwargs = get_aws_connection_info(module,
-                                                                   boto3=True)
-        if not region:
-            module.fail_json(msg="Region must be specified as a parameter, in \
-                             EC2_REGION or AWS_REGION environment variables \
-                             or in boto configuration file")
-        return boto3_conn(module, conn_type='client',
-                          resource='events',
-                          region=region, endpoint=ec2_url,
-                          **aws_conn_kwargs)
-    except botocore.exceptions.ProfileNotFound as e:
-        module.fail_json(msg=str(e))
+    region, ec2_url, aws_conn_kwargs = get_aws_connection_info(module, boto3=True)
+    return boto3_conn(module, conn_type='client',
+                      resource='events',
+                      region=region, endpoint=ec2_url,
+                      **aws_conn_kwargs)
 
 
 def main():
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ec2_group.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ec2_group.py
index 877cc57de4f..a7068aa65f0 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ec2_group.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ec2_group.py
@@ -680,11 +680,8 @@ def main():
 
     changed = False
     region, ec2_url, aws_connect_params = get_aws_connection_info(module, boto3=True)
-    if not region:
-        module.fail_json(msg="The AWS region must be specified as an "
-                             "environment variable or in the AWS credentials "
-                             "profile.")
-    client = boto3_conn(module, conn_type='client', resource='ec2', endpoint=ec2_url, region=region, **aws_connect_params)
+    client = boto3_conn(module, conn_type='client', resource='ec2',
+                        endpoint=ec2_url, region=region, **aws_connect_params)
 
     if not has_rule_description_attr(client):
         all_rules = rules if rules else [] + rules_egress if rules_egress else []
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ec2_snapshot_copy.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ec2_snapshot_copy.py
index b2e1082fd83..9cfc5bc3d83 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ec2_snapshot_copy.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ec2_snapshot_copy.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ from ansible.module_utils._text import to_native
 
 try:
     import boto3
-    from botocore.exceptions import ClientError, NoCredentialsError, ProfileNotFound, NoRegionError, WaiterError
+    from botocore.exceptions import ClientError, WaiterError
     HAS_BOTO3 = True
 except ImportError:
     HAS_BOTO3 = False
@@ -174,12 +174,8 @@ def main():
         module.fail_json(msg='botocore and boto3 are required.')
 
     region, ec2_url, aws_connect_kwargs = get_aws_connection_info(module, boto3=True)
-    if not region:
-        module.fail_json(msg="Region must be provided.")
-    try:
-        client = boto3_conn(module, conn_type='client', resource='ec2', region=region, endpoint=ec2_url, **aws_connect_kwargs)
-    except (NoCredentialsError, ProfileNotFound) as e:
-        module.fail_json(msg="Can't authorize connection - %s" % to_native(e))
+    client = boto3_conn(module, conn_type='client', resource='ec2',
+                        region=region, endpoint=ec2_url, **aws_connect_kwargs)
 
     copy_snapshot(module, client)
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ecs_taskdefinition_facts.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ecs_taskdefinition_facts.py
index 045e85862de..b29aa28fbbd 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ecs_taskdefinition_facts.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ecs_taskdefinition_facts.py
@@ -321,13 +321,9 @@ def main():
     if not HAS_BOTO3:
         module.fail_json(msg='boto3 is required.')
 
-    try:
-        region, ec2_url, aws_connect_kwargs = get_aws_connection_info(module, boto3=True)
-        if not region:
-            module.fail_json(msg="Region must be specified as a parameter, in EC2_REGION or AWS_REGION environment variables or in boto configuration file")
-        ecs = boto3_conn(module, conn_type='client', resource='ecs', region=region, endpoint=ec2_url, **aws_connect_kwargs)
-    except botocore.exceptions.ProfileNotFound as e:
-        module.fail_json(msg=str(e))
+    region, ec2_url, aws_connect_kwargs = get_aws_connection_info(module, boto3=True)
+    ecs = boto3_conn(module, conn_type='client', resource='ecs',
+                     region=region, endpoint=ec2_url, **aws_connect_kwargs)
 
     ecs_td = ecs.describe_task_definition(taskDefinition=module.params['task_definition'])['taskDefinition']
     ecs_td_snake = {}
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/aws_api_gateway/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/aws_api_gateway/tasks/main.yml
index 5b4c2691e26..cf09562346a 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/aws_api_gateway/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/aws_api_gateway/tasks/main.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
       assert:
         that:
            - 'result.failed'
-           - 'result.msg.startswith("Region must be specified")'
+           - 'result.msg.startswith("The aws_api_gateway module requires a region")'
 
     # ============================================================
     - name: test with minimal parameters but no region
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
       assert:
         that:
            - 'result.failed'
-           - 'result.msg.startswith("Region must be specified")'
+           - 'result.msg.startswith("The aws_api_gateway module requires a region")'
 
     # ============================================================
     - name: test disallow multiple swagger sources
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/ec2_group/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/ec2_group/tasks/main.yml
index 6ec69601a4b..f2b91b1770e 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/ec2_group/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/ec2_group/tasks/main.yml
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
       assert:
         that:
            - 'result.failed'
-           - 'result.msg.startswith("The AWS region must be specified as an environment variable or in the AWS credentials profile")'
+           - 'result.msg.startswith("The ec2_group module requires a region")'
 
     # ============================================================
     - name: test valid ec2_url parameter
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@
       assert:
         that:
            - 'result.failed'
-           - 'result.msg.startswith("The AWS region must be specified as an environment variable or in the AWS credentials profile")'
+           - 'result.msg.startswith("The ec2_group module requires a region")'
 
     # ============================================================
     - name: test credentials from environment