diff --git a/exercises/euca.sh b/exercises/euca.sh
index 7f4869573f..86cd67321e 100755
--- a/exercises/euca.sh
+++ b/exercises/euca.sh
@@ -95,5 +95,11 @@ fi
 # Terminate instance
 euca-terminate-instances $INSTANCE
 
+# Assure it has terminated within a reasonable time
+if ! timeout $TERMINATE_TIMEOUT sh -c "while euca-describe-instances $INSTANCE | grep -q running; do sleep 1; done"; then
+    echo "server didn't terminate within $TERMINATE_TIMEOUT seconds"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 # Delete group
 euca-delete-group $SECGROUP
diff --git a/openrc b/openrc
index df011a32ab..d742ced4ab 100644
--- a/openrc
+++ b/openrc
@@ -89,3 +89,6 @@ export RUNNING_TIMEOUT=${RUNNING_TIMEOUT:-$(($BOOT_TIMEOUT + $ACTIVE_TIMEOUT))}
 
 # Max time to wait for proper IP association and dis-association.
 export ASSOCIATE_TIMEOUT=${ASSOCIATE_TIMEOUT:-15}
+
+# Max time to wait for a vm to terminate
+export TERMINATE_TIMEOUT=${TERMINATE_TIMEOUT:-30}