diff --git a/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py b/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py
index fec4c3064..180f460c0 100644
--- a/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py
+++ b/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py
@@ -3611,7 +3611,7 @@ def test_update_supports_list_append_maps():
 
 @mock_dynamodb2
 def test_update_supports_list_append_with_nested_if_not_exists_operation():
-    dynamo = boto3.resource("dynamodb")
+    dynamo = boto3.resource("dynamodb", region_name="us-west-1")
     table_name = "test"
 
     dynamo.create_table(