diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/custom-resources/README.md b/packages/@aws-cdk/custom-resources/README.md
index 693b60209d7a9..4f13a0f63cbf6 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/custom-resources/README.md
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/custom-resources/README.md
@@ -33,14 +33,18 @@ the actual handler.
 ```ts
 import { CustomResource } from '@aws-cdk/core';
 import * as logs from '@aws-cdk/aws-logs';
+import * as iam from '@aws-cdk/aws-iam';
 import * as cr from '@aws-cdk/custom-resources';
 
 const onEvent = new lambda.Function(this, 'MyHandler', { /* ... */ });
 
+const myRole = new iam.Role(this, 'MyRole', { /* ... */ });
+
 const myProvider = new cr.Provider(this, 'MyProvider', {
   onEventHandler: onEvent,
   isCompleteHandler: isComplete,        // optional async "waiter"
-  logRetention: logs.RetentionDays.ONE_DAY   // default is INFINITE
+  logRetention: logs.RetentionDays.ONE_DAY,   // default is INFINITE
+  role: myRole, // must be assumable by the `lambda.amazonaws.com` service principal
 });
 
 new CustomResource(this, 'Resource1', { serviceToken: myProvider.serviceToken });
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/custom-resources/lib/provider-framework/provider.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/custom-resources/lib/provider-framework/provider.ts
index fe46a7dd7f0b5..8d99963627a4a 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/custom-resources/lib/provider-framework/provider.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/custom-resources/lib/provider-framework/provider.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import * as path from 'path';
 import * as ec2 from '@aws-cdk/aws-ec2';
+import * as iam from '@aws-cdk/aws-iam';
 import * as lambda from '@aws-cdk/aws-lambda';
 import * as logs from '@aws-cdk/aws-logs';
 import { Duration } from '@aws-cdk/core';
@@ -105,6 +106,15 @@ export interface ProviderProps {
    */
   readonly securityGroups?: ec2.ISecurityGroup[];
 
+  /**
+   * AWS Lambda execution role.
+   *
+   * The role that will be assumed by the AWS Lambda.
+   * Must be assumable by the 'lambda.amazonaws.com' service principal.
+   *
+   * @default - A default role will be created.
+   */
+  readonly role?: iam.IRole;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -135,6 +145,7 @@ export class Provider extends CoreConstruct implements ICustomResourceProvider {
   private readonly vpc?: ec2.IVpc;
   private readonly vpcSubnets?: ec2.SubnetSelection;
   private readonly securityGroups?: ec2.ISecurityGroup[];
+  private readonly role?: iam.IRole;
 
   constructor(scope: Construct, id: string, props: ProviderProps) {
     super(scope, id);
@@ -152,6 +163,8 @@ export class Provider extends CoreConstruct implements ICustomResourceProvider {
     this.vpcSubnets = props.vpcSubnets;
     this.securityGroups = props.securityGroups;
 
+    this.role = props.role;
+
     const onEventFunction = this.createFunction(consts.FRAMEWORK_ON_EVENT_HANDLER_NAME);
 
     if (this.isCompleteHandler) {
@@ -166,7 +179,6 @@ export class Provider extends CoreConstruct implements ICustomResourceProvider {
         interval: retry.interval,
         maxAttempts: retry.maxAttempts,
       });
-
       // the on-event entrypoint is going to start the execution of the waiter
       onEventFunction.addEnvironment(consts.WAITER_STATE_MACHINE_ARN_ENV, waiterStateMachine.stateMachineArn);
       waiterStateMachine.grantStartExecution(onEventFunction);
@@ -197,6 +209,7 @@ export class Provider extends CoreConstruct implements ICustomResourceProvider {
       vpc: this.vpc,
       vpcSubnets: this.vpcSubnets,
       securityGroups: this.securityGroups,
+      role: this.role,
     });
 
     fn.addEnvironment(consts.USER_ON_EVENT_FUNCTION_ARN_ENV, this.onEventHandler.functionArn);
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/custom-resources/test/provider-framework/provider.test.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/custom-resources/test/provider-framework/provider.test.ts
index 3b8ba5de5ada9..e9cfa0b5e6867 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/custom-resources/test/provider-framework/provider.test.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/custom-resources/test/provider-framework/provider.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import * as path from 'path';
 import * as ec2 from '@aws-cdk/aws-ec2';
+import * as iam from '@aws-cdk/aws-iam';
 import * as lambda from '@aws-cdk/aws-lambda';
 import * as logs from '@aws-cdk/aws-logs';
 import { Duration, Stack } from '@aws-cdk/core';
@@ -342,3 +343,57 @@ describe('log retention', () => {
     expect(stack).not.toHaveResource('Custom::LogRetention');
   });
 });
+
+describe('role', () => {
+  it('uses custom role when present', () => {
+    // GIVEN
+    const stack = new Stack();
+
+    // WHEN
+    new cr.Provider(stack, 'MyProvider', {
+      onEventHandler: new lambda.Function(stack, 'MyHandler', {
+        code: lambda.Code.fromAsset(path.join(__dirname, './integration-test-fixtures/s3-file-handler')),
+        handler: 'index.onEvent',
+        runtime: lambda.Runtime.NODEJS_10_X,
+      }),
+      role: new iam.Role(stack, 'MyRole', {
+        assumedBy: new iam.ServicePrincipal('lambda.amazonaws.com'),
+        managedPolicies: [iam.ManagedPolicy.fromAwsManagedPolicyName('service-role/AWSLambdaBasicExecutionRole')],
+      }),
+    });
+
+    // THEN
+    expect(stack).toHaveResourceLike('AWS::Lambda::Function', {
+      Role: {
+        'Fn::GetAtt': [
+          'MyRoleF48FFE04',
+          'Arn',
+        ],
+      },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('uses default role otherwise', () => {
+    // GIVEN
+    const stack = new Stack();
+
+    // WHEN
+    new cr.Provider(stack, 'MyProvider', {
+      onEventHandler: new lambda.Function(stack, 'MyHandler', {
+        code: lambda.Code.fromAsset(path.join(__dirname, './integration-test-fixtures/s3-file-handler')),
+        handler: 'index.onEvent',
+        runtime: lambda.Runtime.NODEJS_10_X,
+      }),
+    });
+
+    // THEN
+    expect(stack).toHaveResourceLike('AWS::Lambda::Function', {
+      Role: {
+        'Fn::GetAtt': [
+          'MyProviderframeworkonEventServiceRole8761E48D',
+          'Arn',
+        ],
+      },
+    });
+  });
+});