diff --git a/test/requirements.txt b/test/requirements.txt
index dfdec58c..1a608aea 100644
--- a/test/requirements.txt
+++ b/test/requirements.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,9 @@ moto>=1.3.3
 pytest>=3.3.1
 pytest-cov
 pytest-mock
-pytest-xdist
\ No newline at end of file
+pytest-xdist
+# temporarily pinning boto3 and botocore because the new version broke moto
+# https://github.com/spulec/moto/issues/1793
+# proper fix TBD https://github.com/aws/aws-dynamodb-encryption-python/issues/85
+boto3 < 1.8.0
+botocore < 1.11.0
\ No newline at end of file