diff --git a/buildman/manager/executor.py b/buildman/manager/executor.py
index 1a7c4e114..814b95a5b 100644
--- a/buildman/manager/executor.py
+++ b/buildman/manager/executor.py
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ class EC2Executor(BuilderExecutor):
   @coroutine
   def stop_builder(self, builder_id):
     ec2_conn = self._get_conn()
-    terminated_instances = yield From(ec2_conn.terminate_instances([builder_id], force=True))
+    terminated_instances = yield From(ec2_conn.terminate_instances([builder_id]))
     if builder_id not in [si.id for si in terminated_instances]:
       raise ExecutorException('Unable to terminate instance: %s' % builder_id)