diff --git a/bouncer/asgset.go b/bouncer/asgset.go
index b0ca3b77..4b728bb8 100644
--- a/bouncer/asgset.go
+++ b/bouncer/asgset.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	log "github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/autoscaling"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 
 	"github.com/palantir/bouncer/aws"
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ func (a *ASGSet) GetImmutableInstances() []*Instance {
 	var instances []*Instance
 	for _, asg := range a.ASGs {
 		for _, inst := range asg.Instances {
-			if *inst.ASGInstance.LifecycleState == "Terminating" || *inst.ASGInstance.LifecycleState == "Pending" || *inst.ASGInstance.LifecycleState == "Terminating:Proceed" {
+			if *inst.ASGInstance.LifecycleState == autoscaling.LifecycleStateTerminating || *inst.ASGInstance.LifecycleState == autoscaling.LifecycleStatePending || *inst.ASGInstance.LifecycleState == autoscaling.LifecycleStateTerminatingProceed {
 				instances = append(instances, inst)
 			}
 		}
@@ -243,11 +244,21 @@ func (a *ASGSet) IsNewUnhealthy() bool {
 
 	newUnhealthy := a.GetUnhealthyNewInstances()
 	for _, inst := range newUnhealthy {
+		state := *inst.ASGInstance.LifecycleState
+		var msg string
+
+		switch state {
+		case autoscaling.LifecycleStateTerminating, autoscaling.LifecycleStateTerminatingProceed, autoscaling.LifecycleStateTerminatingWait:
+			msg = "Waiting for unhealthy new instance to get out of the way"
+		default:
+			msg = "Waiting for new instance to become healthy"
+		}
+
 		log.WithFields(log.Fields{
 			"ASG":        *inst.AutoscalingGroup.AutoScalingGroupName,
 			"InstanceID": *inst.ASGInstance.InstanceId,
-			"State":      *inst.ASGInstance.LifecycleState,
-		}).Info("Waiting for new instance to become healthy")
+			"State":      state,
+		}).Info(msg)
 		isNewUnhealthy = true
 	}
 
diff --git a/bouncer/runner.go b/bouncer/runner.go
index ddefe0b0..42488660 100644
--- a/bouncer/runner.go
+++ b/bouncer/runner.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	log "github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/autoscaling"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 
 	"github.com/palantir/bouncer/aws"
@@ -56,11 +57,6 @@ const (
 
 	asgSeparator        = ","
 	desiredCapSeparator = ":"
-
-	// The state instance is in while waiting for autoscaling:EC2_INSTANCE_LAUNCHING transition hook
-	pendingHookState = "Pending:Wait"
-	// The state instance is in while waiting for autoscaling:EC2_INSTANCE_TERMINATING transition hook
-	terminateHookState = "Terminating:Wait"
 )
 
 func retry(attempts int, sleep time.Duration, callback func() error) (err error) {
@@ -165,11 +161,11 @@ func (r *BaseRunner) KillInstance(inst *Instance) error {
 	}).Info("Picked instance to die next")
 	var hook string
 
-	if *inst.ASGInstance.LifecycleState == pendingHookState {
+	if *inst.ASGInstance.LifecycleState == autoscaling.LifecycleStatePendingWait {
 		hook = r.opts.PendingHook
 	}
 
-	if *inst.ASGInstance.LifecycleState == terminateHookState {
+	if *inst.ASGInstance.LifecycleState == autoscaling.LifecycleStateTerminatingWait {
 		hook = r.opts.TerminateHook
 	}