diff --git a/src/ddb.erl b/src/ddb.erl
index ff8d415..7c20dfd 100644
--- a/src/ddb.erl
+++ b/src/ddb.erl
@@ -377,12 +377,12 @@ update_action('delete') -> <<"DELETE">>.
 -spec request(string(), json()) -> json_reply().
 
 request(Target, JSON) ->
-    Body = jsx:to_json(JSON),
+    Body = jsx:term_to_json(JSON),
     lager:debug("request: json = ~p", [Body]),
     Headers = headers(Target, Body),
     Opts = [{'response_format', 'binary'}],
     F = fun() -> ibrowse:request(?DDB_ENDPOINT, [{'Content-type', ?CONTENT_TYPE} | Headers], 'post', Body, Opts) end,
-    ddb_aws:retry(F, ?MAX_RETRIES, fun jsx:to_term/1).
+    ddb_aws:retry(F, ?MAX_RETRIES, fun jsx:json_to_term/1).
 
 -spec headers(string(), binary()) -> proplists:proplist().