diff --git a/octodns/provider/route53.py b/octodns/provider/route53.py
index 2bf59a5..cd0b720 100644
--- a/octodns/provider/route53.py
+++ b/octodns/provider/route53.py
@@ -669,11 +669,12 @@ class Route53Provider(BaseProvider):
             response = self._conn.list_hosted_zones_by_name(
                 DNSName=name, MaxItems="1"
             )
-            if len(response['HostedZones']) == 1:
-                # if there is a single response
-                id = response['HostedZones'][0]['Id']
-                self.log.debug(id)
-                return id
+            if len(response['HostedZones']) != 0:
+                # if there is a response that starts with the name
+                if response['HostedZones'][0]['Name'].startswith(name):
+                    id = response['HostedZones'][0]['Id']
+                    self.log.debug('get_zones_by_name:   id=%s', id)
+                    return id
         elif name in self.r53_zones:
             id = self.r53_zones[name]
             self.log.debug('_get_zone_id:   id=%s', id)
diff --git a/tests/test_octodns_provider_route53.py b/tests/test_octodns_provider_route53.py
index 136f442..4b3b759 100644
--- a/tests/test_octodns_provider_route53.py
+++ b/tests/test_octodns_provider_route53.py
@@ -1782,6 +1782,43 @@ class TestRoute53Provider(TestCase):
         self.assertEquals([], extra)
         stubber.assert_no_pending_responses()
 
+    def test_zone_not_found_get_zones_by_name(self):
+        provider = Route53Provider(
+            'test', 'abc', '123', get_zones_by_name=True)
+
+        # Use the stubber
+        stubber = Stubber(provider._conn)
+        stubber.activate()
+
+        list_hosted_zones_by_name_resp = {
+            'HostedZones': [{
+                'Id': 'z43',
+                'Name': 'bad.tests.',
+                'CallerReference': 'abc',
+                'Config': {
+                    'Comment': 'string',
+                    'PrivateZone': False
+                },
+                'ResourceRecordSetCount': 123,
+            }, ],
+            'DNSName': 'unit.tests.',
+            'HostedZoneId': 'z42',
+            'IsTruncated': False,
+            'MaxItems': 'string'
+        }
+
+        stubber.add_response(
+            'list_hosted_zones_by_name',
+            list_hosted_zones_by_name_resp,
+            {'DNSName': 'unit.tests.', 'MaxItems': '1'}
+        )
+
+        # empty is empty
+        desired = Zone('unit.tests.', [])
+        extra = provider._extra_changes(desired=desired, changes=[])
+        self.assertEquals([], extra)
+        stubber.assert_no_pending_responses()
+
     def test_plan_with_get_zones_by_name(self):
         provider = Route53Provider(
             'test', 'abc', '123', get_zones_by_name=True)