diff --git a/moto/ec2/.models.py.swp b/moto/ec2/.models.py.swp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9c556ae1a
Binary files /dev/null and b/moto/ec2/.models.py.swp differ
diff --git a/moto/ec2/models.py b/moto/ec2/models.py
index a80dd3cfc..0b4db0e28 100644
--- a/moto/ec2/models.py
+++ b/moto/ec2/models.py
@@ -901,6 +901,7 @@ class SubnetBackend(object):
     def create_subnet(self, vpc_id, cidr_block):
         subnet_id = random_subnet_id()
         subnet = Subnet(subnet_id, vpc_id, cidr_block)
+        vpc = self.get_vpc(vpc_id) # Validate VPC exists
         self.subnets[subnet_id] = subnet
         return subnet
 
diff --git a/tests/test_ec2/.test_subnets.py.swp b/tests/test_ec2/.test_subnets.py.swp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1d61bbc17
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/test_ec2/.test_subnets.py.swp differ
diff --git a/tests/test_ec2/test_subnets.py b/tests/test_ec2/test_subnets.py
index 887e1eafa..37fd4007e 100644
--- a/tests/test_ec2/test_subnets.py
+++ b/tests/test_ec2/test_subnets.py
@@ -30,6 +30,17 @@ def test_subnets():
     cm.exception.request_id.should_not.be.none
 
 
+@mock_ec2
+def test_subnet_create_vpc_validation():
+    conn = boto.connect_vpc('the_key', 'the_secret')
+
+    with assert_raises(EC2ResponseError) as cm:
+        conn.create_subnet("vpc-abcd1234", "10.0.0.0/18")
+    cm.exception.code.should.equal('InvalidVpcID.NotFound')
+    cm.exception.status.should.equal(400)
+    cm.exception.request_id.should_not.be.none
+
+
 @mock_ec2
 def test_subnet_tagging():
     conn = boto.connect_vpc('the_key', 'the_secret')