diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6566871d7..f8070f8a2 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ This project follows [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org) guidelines.
 ### Fixed
 * Fixes a bug causing a 404 error when attempting to delete a database from a server in the admin control panel.
 * Fixes console input auto-capitalizing and auto-correcting when entering text on some mobile devices.
+* Fixes SES service configuration using a hard-coded `us-east-1` region.
 
 ## v1.8.1
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/config/services.php b/config/services.php
index 39b8116c7..acaabc5fa 100644
--- a/config/services.php
+++ b/config/services.php
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ return [
     'ses' => [
         'key' => env('SES_KEY'),
         'secret' => env('SES_SECRET'),
-        'region' => 'us-east-1',
+        'region' => env('SES_REGION', 'us-east-1'),
     ],
 
     'sparkpost' => [