diff --git a/consul/acl_endpoint.go b/consul/acl_endpoint.go
index 6a7cfc472b..f3c162b989 100644
--- a/consul/acl_endpoint.go
+++ b/consul/acl_endpoint.go
@@ -55,22 +55,12 @@ func (a *ACL) Apply(args *structs.ACLRequest, reply *string) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("ACL rule compilation failed: %v", err)
 		}
 
-		// Check if this is an update
-		state := a.srv.fsm.State()
-		var existing *structs.ACL
-		if args.ACL.ID != "" {
-			_, existing, err = state.ACLGet(args.ACL.ID)
-			if err != nil {
-				a.srv.logger.Printf("[ERR] consul.acl: ACL lookup failed: %v", err)
-				return err
-			}
-		}
-
-		// If this is a create, generate a new ID. This must
+		// If no ID is provided, generate a new ID. This must
 		// be done prior to appending to the raft log, because the ID is not
 		// deterministic. Once the entry is in the log, the state update MUST
 		// be deterministic or the followers will not converge.
-		if existing == nil {
+		if args.ACL.ID == "" {
+			state := a.srv.fsm.State()
 			for {
 				args.ACL.ID = generateUUID()
 				_, acl, err := state.ACLGet(args.ACL.ID)
diff --git a/consul/acl_endpoint_test.go b/consul/acl_endpoint_test.go
index 4c2e4410a3..11a305a949 100644
--- a/consul/acl_endpoint_test.go
+++ b/consul/acl_endpoint_test.go
@@ -148,6 +148,53 @@ func TestACLEndpoint_Update_PurgeCache(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestACLEndpoint_Apply_CustomID(t *testing.T) {
+	dir1, s1 := testServerWithConfig(t, func(c *Config) {
+		c.ACLDatacenter = "dc1"
+		c.ACLMasterToken = "root"
+	})
+	defer os.RemoveAll(dir1)
+	defer s1.Shutdown()
+	client := rpcClient(t, s1)
+	defer client.Close()
+
+	testutil.WaitForLeader(t, client.Call, "dc1")
+
+	arg := structs.ACLRequest{
+		Datacenter: "dc1",
+		Op:         structs.ACLSet,
+		ACL: structs.ACL{
+			ID:   "foobarbaz", // Specify custom ID, does not exist
+			Name: "User token",
+			Type: structs.ACLTypeClient,
+		},
+		WriteRequest: structs.WriteRequest{Token: "root"},
+	}
+	var out string
+	if err := client.Call("ACL.Apply", &arg, &out); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if out != "foobarbaz" {
+		t.Fatalf("bad token ID: %s", out)
+	}
+
+	// Verify
+	state := s1.fsm.State()
+	_, s, err := state.ACLGet(out)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if s == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("should not be nil")
+	}
+	if s.ID != out {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %v", s)
+	}
+	if s.Name != "User token" {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %v", s)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestACLEndpoint_Apply_Denied(t *testing.T) {
 	dir1, s1 := testServerWithConfig(t, func(c *Config) {
 		c.ACLDatacenter = "dc1"