diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/google/gce.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/google/gce.py
index 2fd855bcbe..298c724db3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/google/gce.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/google/gce.py
@@ -33,9 +33,10 @@ description:
 options:
   image:
     description:
-       - image string to use for the instance
+      - image string to use for the instance (default will follow latest
+        stable debian image)
     required: false
-    default: "debian-7"
+    default: "debian-8"
   instance_names:
     description:
       - a comma-separated list of instance names to create or destroy
@@ -617,7 +618,7 @@ def change_instance_state(module, gce, instance_names, number, zone_name, state)
 def main():
     module = AnsibleModule(
         argument_spec = dict(
-            image = dict(default='debian-7'),
+            image = dict(default='debian-8'),
             instance_names = dict(),
             machine_type = dict(default='n1-standard-1'),
             metadata = dict(),