diff --git a/tests/test_ec2/test_security_groups.py b/tests/test_ec2/test_security_groups.py
index 8bdebf5b3..bacbc3d18 100644
--- a/tests/test_ec2/test_security_groups.py
+++ b/tests/test_ec2/test_security_groups.py
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ Boto3
 
 @mock_ec2
 def test_security_group_tagging_boto3():
-    conn = boto3.client('ec2')
+    conn = boto3.client('ec2', region_name='us-east-1')
     sg = conn.create_security_group(GroupName="test-sg", Description="Test SG")
     conn.create_tags(Resources=[sg['GroupId']], Tags=[{'Key': 'Test', 'Value': 'Tag'}])
     describe = conn.describe_security_groups(Filters=[{'Name': 'tag-value', 'Values': ['Tag']}])