diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/elb_application_lb_fix_state_default.yml b/changelogs/fragments/elb_application_lb_fix_state_default.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d789ab86c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/elb_application_lb_fix_state_default.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+bugfixes:
+- elb_application_lb - Fix a dangerous behavior of deleting an ELB if state was omitted from the task.
+  Now state defaults to 'present', which is typical throughout AWS modules.
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/elb_application_lb.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/elb_application_lb.py
index 5587d1ca6a..9060daa496 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/elb_application_lb.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/elb_application_lb.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ options:
   state:
     description:
       - Create or destroy the load balancer.
-    required: true
+    default: present
     choices: [ 'present', 'absent' ]
   tags:
     description:
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ def main():
             subnets=dict(type='list'),
             security_groups=dict(type='list'),
             scheme=dict(default='internet-facing', choices=['internet-facing', 'internal']),
-            state=dict(choices=['present', 'absent'], type='str'),
+            state=dict(choices=['present', 'absent'], default='present'),
             tags=dict(type='dict'),
             wait_timeout=dict(type='int'),
             wait=dict(default=False, type='bool'),