diff --git a/terraform/resource_address.go b/terraform/resource_address.go
index da22b2321..3d15c7f99 100644
--- a/terraform/resource_address.go
+++ b/terraform/resource_address.go
@@ -85,6 +85,37 @@ func (r *ResourceAddress) String() string {
 	return strings.Join(result, ".")
 }
 
+// parseResourceAddressInternal parses the somewhat bespoke resource
+// identifier used in states and diffs, such as "instance.name.0".
+func parseResourceAddressInternal(s string) (*ResourceAddress, error) {
+	// Split based on ".". Every resource address should have at least two
+	// elements (type and name).
+	parts := strings.Split(s, ".")
+	if len(parts) < 2 || len(parts) > 3 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Invalid internal resource address format: %s", s)
+	}
+
+	// Build the parts of the resource address that are guaranteed to exist
+	addr := &ResourceAddress{
+		Type:         parts[0],
+		Name:         parts[1],
+		Index:        -1,
+		InstanceType: TypePrimary,
+	}
+
+	// If we have more parts, then we have an index. Parse that.
+	if len(parts) > 2 {
+		idx, err := strconv.ParseInt(parts[2], 0, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Error parsing resource address %q: %s", s, err)
+		}
+
+		addr.Index = int(idx)
+	}
+
+	return addr, nil
+}
+
 func ParseResourceAddress(s string) (*ResourceAddress, error) {
 	matches, err := tokenizeResourceAddress(s)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/terraform/resource_address_test.go b/terraform/resource_address_test.go
index 144d7a9ec..ac0720e4e 100644
--- a/terraform/resource_address_test.go
+++ b/terraform/resource_address_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,66 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/terraform/config"
 )
 
+func TestParseResourceAddressInternal(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := map[string]struct {
+		Input    string
+		Expected *ResourceAddress
+		Output   string
+	}{
+		"basic resource": {
+			"aws_instance.foo",
+			&ResourceAddress{
+				Mode:         config.ManagedResourceMode,
+				Type:         "aws_instance",
+				Name:         "foo",
+				InstanceType: TypePrimary,
+				Index:        -1,
+			},
+			"aws_instance.foo",
+		},
+
+		"basic resource with count": {
+			"aws_instance.foo.1",
+			&ResourceAddress{
+				Mode:         config.ManagedResourceMode,
+				Type:         "aws_instance",
+				Name:         "foo",
+				InstanceType: TypePrimary,
+				Index:        1,
+			},
+			"aws_instance.foo[1]",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for tn, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(tc.Input, func(t *testing.T) {
+			out, err := parseResourceAddressInternal(tc.Input)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("%s: unexpected err: %#v", tn, err)
+			}
+
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(out, tc.Expected) {
+				t.Fatalf("bad: %q\n\nexpected:\n%#v\n\ngot:\n%#v", tn, tc.Expected, out)
+			}
+
+			// Compare outputs if those exist
+			expected := tc.Input
+			if tc.Output != "" {
+				expected = tc.Output
+			}
+			if out.String() != expected {
+				t.Fatalf("bad: %q\n\nexpected: %s\n\ngot: %s", tn, expected, out)
+			}
+
+			// Compare equality because the internal parse is used
+			// to compare equality to equal inputs.
+			if !out.Equals(tc.Expected) {
+				t.Fatalf("expected equality:\n\n%#v\n\n%#v", out, tc.Expected)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestParseResourceAddress(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := map[string]struct {
 		Input    string