diff --git a/sprockets/clients/dynamodb/connector.py b/sprockets/clients/dynamodb/connector.py
index 1bdf430..89a4393 100644
--- a/sprockets/clients/dynamodb/connector.py
+++ b/sprockets/clients/dynamodb/connector.py
@@ -104,9 +104,10 @@ class DynamoDB(object):
                 if http_err.code == 599:
                     future.set_exception(exceptions.TimeoutException())
                 else:
-                    response_reason = err.code
-                    if err.response and hasattr(err.response, 'body'):
-                        response_reason = err.response.body
+                    response_reason = http_err.code
+                    if http_err.response and \
+                            hasattr(http_err.response, 'body'):
+                        response_reason = http_err.response.body
                     future.set_exception(response_reason)
             except Exception as exception:
                 future.set_exception(exception)