diff --git a/moto/dynamodb2/responses.py b/moto/dynamodb2/responses.py
index 952d33efa..fce321c3d 100644
--- a/moto/dynamodb2/responses.py
+++ b/moto/dynamodb2/responses.py
@@ -161,8 +161,7 @@ class DynamoHandler(BaseResponse):
         name = self.body['TableName']
         item = self.body['Item']
 
-        res = re.search('\"\"', json.dumps(item))
-        if res:
+        if any(list(param.values())[0] == '' for param in item.values() if isinstance(param, dict)):
             er = 'com.amazonaws.dynamodb.v20111205#ValidationException'
             return (400,
                 {'server': 'amazon.com'},
diff --git a/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py b/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py
index 1d7fa4034..20ff80167 100644
--- a/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py
+++ b/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py
@@ -247,6 +247,33 @@ def test_scan_returns_consumed_capacity():
     assert response['ConsumedCapacity']['TableName'] == name
 
 
+@requires_boto_gte("2.9")
+@mock_dynamodb2
+def test_put_item_with_special_chars():
+    name = 'TestTable'
+    conn = boto3.client('dynamodb',
+                        region_name='us-west-2',
+                        aws_access_key_id="ak",
+                        aws_secret_access_key="sk")
+
+    conn.create_table(TableName=name,
+                      KeySchema=[{'AttributeName':'forum_name','KeyType':'HASH'}],
+                      AttributeDefinitions=[{'AttributeName':'forum_name','AttributeType':'S'}],
+                      ProvisionedThroughput={'ReadCapacityUnits':5,'WriteCapacityUnits':5})
+
+    conn.put_item(
+            TableName=name,
+            Item={
+                'forum_name': { 'S': 'LOLCat Forum' },
+                'subject': { 'S': 'Check this out!' },
+                'Body': { 'S': 'http://url_to_lolcat.gif'},
+                'SentBy': { 'S': "test" },
+                'ReceivedTime': { 'S': '12/9/2011 11:36:03 PM'},
+                '"': {"S": "foo"},
+            }
+        )
+
+
 @requires_boto_gte("2.9")
 @mock_dynamodb2
 def test_query_returns_consumed_capacity():