diff --git a/layercake/layercake/dynamodb.py b/layercake/layercake/dynamodb.py
index a20a7cd..37cd59e 100644
--- a/layercake/layercake/dynamodb.py
+++ b/layercake/layercake/dynamodb.py
@@ -646,14 +646,15 @@ class DynamoDBPersistenceLayer:
             )
         except ClientError as err:
             error_msg = glom(err, 'response.Error.Message', default='')
-            cancellation_reasons = err.response.get('CancellationReasons', [])
+            cancellations = err.response.get('CancellationReasons', [])
             reasons = []
 
-            for idx, reason in enumerate(cancellation_reasons):
-                if reason.get('Code') == 'None':
+            for idx, reason in enumerate(cancellations):
+                if 'Message' not in reason:
                     continue
 
                 item = transact_items.items[idx]
+
                 if item.exc_cls:
                     raise item.exc_cls(error_msg)