diff --git a/moto/ec2/models.py b/moto/ec2/models.py
index 368d27bb6..978f5cf80 100644
--- a/moto/ec2/models.py
+++ b/moto/ec2/models.py
@@ -16,30 +16,35 @@ from .utils import (
 )
 
 
+class InstanceState(object):
+    def __init__(self, name='pending', code=0):
+        self.name = name
+        self.code = code
+
+
 class Instance(BotoInstance):
     def __init__(self, image_id, user_data):
         super(Instance, self).__init__()
         self.id = random_instance_id()
         self.image_id = image_id
-        self._state_name = "pending"
-        self._state_code = 0
+        self._state = InstanceState()
         self.user_data = user_data
 
     def start(self):
-        self._state_name = "pending"
-        self._state_code = 0
+        self._state.name = "pending"
+        self._state.code = 0
 
     def stop(self):
-        self._state_name = "stopping"
-        self._state_code = 64
+        self._state.name = "stopping"
+        self._state.code = 64
 
     def terminate(self):
-        self._state_name = "shutting-down"
-        self._state_code = 32
+        self._state.name = "shutting-down"
+        self._state.code = 32
 
     def reboot(self):
-        self._state_name = "pending"
-        self._state_code = 0
+        self._state.name = "pending"
+        self._state.code = 0
 
 
 class InstanceBackend(object):
diff --git a/moto/ec2/responses/instances.py b/moto/ec2/responses/instances.py
index d0f044e50..ef7f53fb8 100644
--- a/moto/ec2/responses/instances.py
+++ b/moto/ec2/responses/instances.py
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ EC2_RUN_INSTANCES = """<RunInstancesResponse xmlns="http://ec2.amazonaws.com/doc
           <instanceId>{{ instance.id }}</instanceId>
           <imageId>{{ instance.image_id }}</imageId>
           <instanceState>
-            <code>{{ instance._state_code }}</code>
-            <name>{{ instance._state_name }}</name>
+            <code>{{ instance._state.code }}</code>
+            <name>{{ instance._state.name }}</name>
           </instanceState>
           <privateDnsName/>
           <dnsName/>
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ EC2_DESCRIBE_INSTANCES = """<DescribeInstancesResponse xmlns='http://ec2.amazona
                     <instanceId>{{ instance.id }}</instanceId>
                     <imageId>{{ instance.image_id }}</imageId>
                     <instanceState>
-                      <code>{{ instance._state_code }}</code>
-                      <name>{{ instance._state_name }}</name>
+                      <code>{{ instance._state.code }}</code>
+                      <name>{{ instance._state.name }}</name>
                     </instanceState>
                     <privateDnsName/>
                     <dnsName/>
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@ EC2_TERMINATE_INSTANCES = """
           <name>running</name>
         </previousState>
         <currentState>
-          <code>{{ instance._state_code }}</code>
-          <name>{{ instance._state_name }}</name>
+          <code>{{ instance._state.code }}</code>
+          <name>{{ instance._state.name }}</name>
         </currentState>
       </item>
     {% endfor %}
@@ -218,8 +218,8 @@ EC2_STOP_INSTANCES = """
           <name>running</name>
         </previousState>
         <currentState>
-          <code>{{ instance._state_code }}</code>
-          <name>{{ instance._state_name }}</name>
+          <code>{{ instance._state.code }}</code>
+          <name>{{ instance._state.name }}</name>
         </currentState>
       </item>
     {% endfor %}
@@ -238,8 +238,8 @@ EC2_START_INSTANCES = """
           <name>running</name>
         </previousState>
         <currentState>
-          <code>{{ instance._state_code }}</code>
-          <name>{{ instance._state_name }}</name>
+          <code>{{ instance._state.code }}</code>
+          <name>{{ instance._state.name }}</name>
         </currentState>
       </item>
     {% endfor %}