diff --git a/lib/Model.js b/lib/Model.js
index 69a0158d0..b69f2042e 100644
--- a/lib/Model.js
+++ b/lib/Model.js
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ async function processCondition (req, options, model) {
         const val = options.conditionValues[k];
         const attr = model.$__.schema.attributes[k];
         if (attr) {
-          req.ExpressionAttributeValues[`:${k}`] = await attr.toDynamo(val, undefined, model, {'updateTimestamps': false});
+          const noSet = options.condition.startsWith('contains');
+          req.ExpressionAttributeValues[`:${k}`] = await attr.toDynamo(val, noSet, model, {'updateTimestamps': false});
         } else {
           throw new errors.ModelError(`Invalid condition value: ${k}. The name must either be in the schema or a full DynamoDB object must be specified.`);
         }
diff --git a/test/Model.js b/test/Model.js
index 03729c5bd..4c73ee907 100644
--- a/test/Model.js
+++ b/test/Model.js
@@ -2425,6 +2425,39 @@ describe('Model', function () {
         done();
       });
     });
+
+    it('Allows simple string for array attribute in contains condition', (done) => {
+      const kitten = new Cats.Cat(
+        {
+          'id': 1,
+          'name': 'Fluffy',
+          'legs': ['front right', 'front left', 'back right', 'back left']
+        }
+      );
+
+      kitten.save(() => {
+        const updateOptions = {
+          'condition': 'contains(legs, :legs)',
+          'conditionValues': {'legs': 'front right'}
+        };
+
+        Cats.Cat.update({'id': 1}, {'name': 'Puffy'}, updateOptions, (err, data) => {
+          should.not.exist(err);
+          should.exist(data);
+          data.id.should.eql(1);
+          data.name.should.equal('Puffy');
+          Cats.Cat.get(1, (errA, puffy) => {
+            should.not.exist(errA);
+            should.exist(puffy);
+            puffy.id.should.eql(1);
+            puffy.name.should.eql('Puffy');
+            done();
+          });
+        });
+      });
+
+    });
+
   });
 
   describe('Model.populate', () => {