diff --git a/moto/ec2/responses/security_groups.py b/moto/ec2/responses/security_groups.py
index ab5d3b1eb..ed50c796b 100644
--- a/moto/ec2/responses/security_groups.py
+++ b/moto/ec2/responses/security_groups.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ def process_rules_from_querystring(querystring):
         if 'IpPermissions.1.IpRanges' in key:
             ip_ranges.append(value[0])
 
-
     source_groups = []
     source_group_ids = []
 
@@ -45,7 +44,11 @@ class SecurityGroups(BaseResponse):
 
     def create_security_group(self):
         name = self.querystring.get('GroupName')[0]
-        description = self.querystring.get('GroupDescription')[0]
+        try:
+            description = self.querystring.get('GroupDescription')[0]
+        except TypeError:
+            # No description found, return error
+            return "The request must contain the parameter GroupDescription", dict(status=400)
         vpc_id = self.querystring.get("VpcId", [None])[0]
         group = ec2_backend.create_security_group(name, description, vpc_id=vpc_id)
         if not group:
diff --git a/tests/test_ec2/test_security_groups.py b/tests/test_ec2/test_security_groups.py
index c48a59b6c..8ae03be4f 100644
--- a/tests/test_ec2/test_security_groups.py
+++ b/tests/test_ec2/test_security_groups.py
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@ def test_create_and_describe_security_group():
     all_groups[0].name.should.equal('test security group')
 
 
+@mock_ec2
+def test_create_security_group_without_description_raises_error():
+    conn = boto.connect_ec2('the_key', 'the_secret')
+    conn.create_security_group.when.called_with('test security group', '').should.throw(EC2ResponseError)
+
+
 @mock_ec2
 def test_create_and_describe_vpc_security_group():
     conn = boto.connect_ec2('the_key', 'the_secret')