diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/ec2.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/ec2.py
index 58291c2d5d..98f9da92d4 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/ec2.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/ec2.py
@@ -42,33 +42,44 @@ AWS_REGIONS = ['ap-northeast-1',
                'us-west-2']
 
 
-def ec2_argument_keys_spec():
+def aws_common_argument_spec():
     return dict(
+        ec2_url=dict(),
         aws_secret_key=dict(aliases=['ec2_secret_key', 'secret_key'], no_log=True),
         aws_access_key=dict(aliases=['ec2_access_key', 'access_key']),
+        validate_certs=dict(default=True, type='bool'),
+        security_token=dict(no_log=True),
+        profile=dict(),
     )
+    return spec
 
 
 def ec2_argument_spec():
-    spec = ec2_argument_keys_spec()
+    spec = aws_common_argument_spec()
     spec.update(
         dict(
             region=dict(aliases=['aws_region', 'ec2_region'], choices=AWS_REGIONS),
-            validate_certs=dict(default=True, type='bool'),
-            ec2_url=dict(),
         )
     )
     return spec
 
 
-def get_ec2_creds(module):
+def boto_supports_profile_name():
+    return hasattr(boto.ec2.EC2Connection, 'profile_name')
+
+
+def get_aws_connection_info(module):
 
     # Check module args for credentials, then check environment vars
+    # access_key
 
     ec2_url = module.params.get('ec2_url')
-    ec2_secret_key = module.params.get('aws_secret_key')
-    ec2_access_key = module.params.get('aws_access_key')
+    access_key = module.params.get('aws_access_key')
+    secret_key = module.params.get('aws_secret_key')
+    security_token = module.params.get('security_token')
     region = module.params.get('region')
+    profile_name = module.params.get('profile')
+    validate_certs = module.params.get('validate_certs')
 
     if not ec2_url:
         if 'EC2_URL' in os.environ:
@@ -76,21 +87,27 @@ def get_ec2_creds(module):
         elif 'AWS_URL' in os.environ:
             ec2_url = os.environ['AWS_URL']
 
-    if not ec2_access_key:
+    if not access_key:
         if 'EC2_ACCESS_KEY' in os.environ:
-            ec2_access_key = os.environ['EC2_ACCESS_KEY']
+            access_key = os.environ['EC2_ACCESS_KEY']
         elif 'AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID' in os.environ:
-            ec2_access_key = os.environ['AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID']
+            access_key = os.environ['AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID']
         elif 'AWS_ACCESS_KEY' in os.environ:
-            ec2_access_key = os.environ['AWS_ACCESS_KEY']
+            access_key = os.environ['AWS_ACCESS_KEY']
+        else:
+            # in case access_key came in as empty string
+            access_key = None
 
-    if not ec2_secret_key:
+    if not secret_key:
         if 'EC2_SECRET_KEY' in os.environ:
-            ec2_secret_key = os.environ['EC2_SECRET_KEY']
+            secret_key = os.environ['EC2_SECRET_KEY']
         elif 'AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY' in os.environ:
-            ec2_secret_key = os.environ['AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY']
+            secret_key = os.environ['AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY']
         elif 'AWS_SECRET_KEY' in os.environ:
-            ec2_secret_key = os.environ['AWS_SECRET_KEY']
+            secret_key = os.environ['AWS_SECRET_KEY']
+        else:
+            # in case secret_key came in as empty string
+            secret_key = None
 
     if not region:
         if 'EC2_REGION' in os.environ:
@@ -99,39 +116,75 @@ def get_ec2_creds(module):
             region = os.environ['AWS_REGION']
         else:
             # boto.config.get returns None if config not found
-	    region = boto.config.get('Boto', 'aws_region')
+            region = boto.config.get('Boto', 'aws_region')
             if not region:
                 region = boto.config.get('Boto', 'ec2_region')
 
-    return ec2_url, ec2_access_key, ec2_secret_key, region
+    if not security_token:
+        if 'AWS_SECURITY_TOKEN' in os.environ:
+            security_token = os.environ['AWS_SECURITY_TOKEN']
+        else:
+            # in case security_token came in as empty string
+            security_token = None
+
+    boto_params = dict(aws_access_key_id=access_key,
+                       aws_secret_access_key=secret_key,
+                       security_token=security_token)
+
+    # profile_name only works as a key in boto >= 2.24
+    # so only set profile_name if passed as an argument
+    if profile_name:
+        if not boto_supports_profile_name():
+            module.fail_json("boto does not support profile_name before 2.24")
+        boto_params['profile_name'] = profile_name
+
+    if validate_certs and HAS_LOOSE_VERSION and LooseVersion(boto.Version) >= LooseVersion("2.6.0"):
+        boto_params['validate_certs'] = validate_certs
+
+    return region, ec2_url, boto_params
+
+
+def get_ec2_creds(module):
+    ''' for compatibility mode with old modules that don't/can't yet
+        use ec2_connect method '''
+    region, ec2_url, boto_params = get_aws_connection_info(module)
+    return ec2_url, boto_params['aws_access_key_id'], boto_params['aws_secret_access_key'], region
+
+
+def boto_fix_security_token_in_profile(conn, profile_name):
+    ''' monkey patch for boto issue boto/boto#2100 '''
+    profile = 'profile ' + profile_name
+    if boto.config.has_option(profile, 'aws_security_token'):
+        conn.provider.set_security_token(boto.config.get(profile, 'aws_security_token'))
+    return conn
+
+
+def connect_to_aws(aws_module, region, **params):
+    conn = aws_module.connect_to_region(region, **params)
+    if params.get('profile_name'):
+        conn = boto_fix_security_token_in_profile(conn, params['profile_name'])
+    return conn
 
 
 def ec2_connect(module):
 
     """ Return an ec2 connection"""
 
-    ec2_url, aws_access_key, aws_secret_key, region = get_ec2_creds(module)
-    validate_certs = module.params.get('validate_certs', True)
+    region, ec2_url, boto_params = get_aws_connection_info(module)
 
     # If we have a region specified, connect to its endpoint.
     if region:
         try:
-            if HAS_LOOSE_VERSION and LooseVersion(boto.Version) >= LooseVersion("2.6.0"):
-                ec2 = boto.ec2.connect_to_region(region, aws_access_key_id=aws_access_key, aws_secret_access_key=aws_secret_key, validate_certs=validate_certs)
-            else:
-                ec2 = boto.ec2.connect_to_region(region, aws_access_key_id=aws_access_key, aws_secret_access_key=aws_secret_key)
+            ec2 = connect_to_aws(boto.ec2, region, **boto_params)
         except boto.exception.NoAuthHandlerFound, e:
-            module.fail_json(msg = str(e))
+            module.fail_json(msg=str(e))
     # Otherwise, no region so we fallback to the old connection method
     elif ec2_url:
         try:
-            if HAS_LOOSE_VERSION and LooseVersion(boto.Version) >= LooseVersion("2.6.0"):
-                ec2 = boto.connect_ec2_endpoint(ec2_url, aws_access_key, aws_secret_key, validate_certs=validate_certs)
-            else:
-                ec2 = boto.connect_ec2_endpoint(ec2_url, aws_access_key, aws_secret_key)
+            ec2 = boto.connect_ec2_endpoint(ec2_url, **boto_params)
         except boto.exception.NoAuthHandlerFound, e:
-            module.fail_json(msg = str(e))
+            module.fail_json(msg=str(e))
     else:
         module.fail_json(msg="Either region or ec2_url must be specified")
-    return ec2
 
+    return ec2
diff --git a/library/cloud/ec2 b/library/cloud/ec2
index f9d1a42813..23ec3eabff 100644
--- a/library/cloud/ec2
+++ b/library/cloud/ec2
@@ -220,6 +220,20 @@ options:
     choices: ["yes", "no"]
     aliases: []
     version_added: "1.5"
+  profile:
+    description:
+      - uses a boto profile. Only works with boto >= 2.24.0
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
+  security_token:
+    description:
+      - security token to authenticate against AWS
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
 
 requirements: [ "boto" ]
 author: Seth Vidal, Tim Gerla, Lester Wade
diff --git a/library/cloud/ec2_ami b/library/cloud/ec2_ami
index 866f2caf76..446c7417e0 100644
--- a/library/cloud/ec2_ami
+++ b/library/cloud/ec2_ami
@@ -109,6 +109,20 @@ options:
     choices: ["yes", "no"]
     aliases: []
     version_added: "1.5"
+  profile:
+    description:
+      - uses a boto profile. Only works with boto >= 2.24.0
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
+  security_token:
+    description:
+      - security token to authenticate against AWS
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
 
 requirements: [ "boto" ]
 author: Evan Duffield <eduffield@iacquire.com>
diff --git a/library/cloud/ec2_eip b/library/cloud/ec2_eip
index de041f4222..7eac979841 100644
--- a/library/cloud/ec2_eip
+++ b/library/cloud/ec2_eip
@@ -61,6 +61,20 @@ options:
     choices: ["yes", "no"]
     aliases: []
     version_added: "1.5"
+  profile:
+    description:
+      - uses a boto profile. Only works with boto >= 2.24.0
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
+  security_token:
+    description:
+      - security token to authenticate against AWS
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
 
 requirements: [ "boto" ]
 author: Lorin Hochstein <lorin@nimbisservices.com>
diff --git a/library/cloud/ec2_group b/library/cloud/ec2_group
index bbbb0fc24e..1dd463cc8d 100644
--- a/library/cloud/ec2_group
+++ b/library/cloud/ec2_group
@@ -65,6 +65,20 @@ options:
     choices: ["yes", "no"]
     aliases: []
     version_added: "1.5"
+  profile:
+    description:
+      - uses a boto profile. Only works with boto >= 2.24.0
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
+  security_token:
+    description:
+      - security token to authenticate against AWS
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
 
 requirements: [ "boto" ]
 '''
diff --git a/library/cloud/ec2_key b/library/cloud/ec2_key
index 5e6950d2c8..289deb6c9d 100644
--- a/library/cloud/ec2_key
+++ b/library/cloud/ec2_key
@@ -56,6 +56,20 @@ options:
     choices: ["yes", "no"]
     aliases: []
     version_added: "1.5"
+  profile:
+    description:
+      - uses a boto profile. Only works with boto >= 2.24.0
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
+  security_token:
+    description:
+      - security token to authenticate against AWS
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
 
 requirements: [ "boto" ]
 author: Vincent Viallet
diff --git a/library/cloud/ec2_snapshot b/library/cloud/ec2_snapshot
index b5d9df3b52..e637ebefa3 100644
--- a/library/cloud/ec2_snapshot
+++ b/library/cloud/ec2_snapshot
@@ -59,17 +59,32 @@ options:
     default: null
     aliases: []
   instance_id:
-    description: 
+    description:
     - instance that has a the required volume to snapshot mounted
     required: false
     default: null
     aliases: []
   device_name:
-    description: 
+    description:
     - device name of a mounted volume to be snapshotted
     required: false
     default: null
     aliases: []
+  profile:
+    description:
+      - uses a boto profile. Only works with boto >= 2.24.0
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
+  security_token:
+    description:
+      - security token to authenticate against AWS
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
+
 requirements: [ "boto" ]
 author: Will Thames
 '''
diff --git a/library/cloud/ec2_tag b/library/cloud/ec2_tag
index c96a8be6f7..92af644933 100644
--- a/library/cloud/ec2_tag
+++ b/library/cloud/ec2_tag
@@ -67,6 +67,20 @@ options:
     choices: ["yes", "no"]
     aliases: []
     version_added: "1.5"
+  profile:
+    description:
+      - uses a boto profile. Only works with boto >= 2.24.0
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
+  security_token:
+    description:
+      - security token to authenticate against AWS
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
 
 requirements: [ "boto" ]
 author: Lester Wade
diff --git a/library/cloud/ec2_vol b/library/cloud/ec2_vol
index bdd2eae382..faacc82da8 100644
--- a/library/cloud/ec2_vol
+++ b/library/cloud/ec2_vol
@@ -90,6 +90,20 @@ options:
     choices: ["yes", "no"]
     aliases: []
     version_added: "1.5"
+  profile:
+    description:
+      - uses a boto profile. Only works with boto >= 2.24.0
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
+  security_token:
+    description:
+      - security token to authenticate against AWS
+    required: false
+    default: null
+    aliases: []
+    version_added: "1.6"
 
 requirements: [ "boto" ]
 author: Lester Wade