diff --git a/moto/dynamodb2/models.py b/moto/dynamodb2/models.py
index 8e5a61755..1527821ed 100644
--- a/moto/dynamodb2/models.py
+++ b/moto/dynamodb2/models.py
@@ -792,6 +792,12 @@ class Table(BaseModel):
         expression_attribute_values=None,
         overwrite=False,
     ):
+        if self.hash_key_attr not in item_attrs.keys():
+            raise ValueError(
+                "One or more parameter values were invalid: Missing the key "
+                + self.hash_key_attr
+                + " in the item"
+            )
         hash_value = DynamoType(item_attrs.get(self.hash_key_attr))
         if self.has_range_key:
             range_value = DynamoType(item_attrs.get(self.range_key_attr))
@@ -808,7 +814,6 @@ class Table(BaseModel):
             else:
                 lookup_range_value = DynamoType(expected_range_value)
         current = self.get_item(hash_value, lookup_range_value)
-
         item = Item(
             hash_value, self.hash_key_type, range_value, self.range_key_type, item_attrs
         )
diff --git a/moto/dynamodb2/responses.py b/moto/dynamodb2/responses.py
index d3767c3fd..9bcb0d541 100644
--- a/moto/dynamodb2/responses.py
+++ b/moto/dynamodb2/responses.py
@@ -293,11 +293,9 @@ class DynamoHandler(BaseResponse):
         except ItemSizeTooLarge:
             er = "com.amazonaws.dynamodb.v20111205#ValidationException"
             return self.error(er, ItemSizeTooLarge.message)
-        except ValueError:
+        except ValueError as ve:
             er = "com.amazonaws.dynamodb.v20111205#ConditionalCheckFailedException"
-            return self.error(
-                er, "A condition specified in the operation could not be evaluated."
-            )
+            return self.error(er, str(ve))
 
         if result:
             item_dict = result.to_json()
diff --git a/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py b/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py
index 428b58f81..0f2be6a2e 100644
--- a/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py
+++ b/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py
@@ -1344,6 +1344,24 @@ def test_get_item_returns_consumed_capacity():
     assert "TableName" in response["ConsumedCapacity"]
 
 
+@mock_dynamodb2
+def test_put_item_nonexisting_hash_key():
+    dynamodb = boto3.resource("dynamodb")
+    dynamodb.create_table(
+        AttributeDefinitions=[{"AttributeName": "structure_id", "AttributeType": "S"},],
+        TableName="test",
+        KeySchema=[{"AttributeName": "structure_id", "KeyType": "HASH"},],
+        ProvisionedThroughput={"ReadCapacityUnits": 123, "WriteCapacityUnits": 123},
+    )
+    table = dynamodb.Table("test")
+
+    with assert_raises(ClientError) as ex:
+        table.put_item(Item={"a_terribly_misguided_id_attribute": "abcdef"})
+    ex.exception.response["Error"]["Message"].should.equal(
+        "One or more parameter values were invalid: Missing the key structure_id in the item"
+    )
+
+
 def test_filter_expression():
     row1 = moto.dynamodb2.models.Item(
         None,