diff --git a/src/_nebari/stages/terraform_state/__init__.py b/src/_nebari/stages/terraform_state/__init__.py
index d9afff36e..4d93775fa 100644
--- a/src/_nebari/stages/terraform_state/__init__.py
+++ b/src/_nebari/stages/terraform_state/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import contextlib
 import enum
-import functools
 import inspect
 import os
 import pathlib
@@ -266,9 +265,15 @@ def check_immutable_fields(self):
         for keys, old, new in nebari_config_diff.modified():
             bottom_level_schema = self.config
             if len(keys) > 1:
-                bottom_level_schema = functools.reduce(
-                    lambda m, k: getattr(m, k), keys[:-1], self.config
-                )
+                for key in keys[:-1]:
+                    try:
+                        bottom_level_schema = getattr(bottom_level_schema, key)
+                    except AttributeError as e:
+                        if isinstance(bottom_level_schema, dict):
+                            # handle case where value is a dict
+                            bottom_level_schema = bottom_level_schema[key]
+                        else:
+                            raise e
             extra_field_schema = schema.ExtraFieldSchema(
                 **bottom_level_schema.model_fields[keys[-1]].json_schema_extra or {}
             )
diff --git a/tests/tests_unit/test_stages.py b/tests/tests_unit/test_stages.py
index e0e254a7d..8c0facf8c 100644
--- a/tests/tests_unit/test_stages.py
+++ b/tests/tests_unit/test_stages.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ def test_check_immutable_fields_no_changes(mock_get_state, terraform_state_stage
 def test_check_immutable_fields_mutable_change(
     mock_get_state, terraform_state_stage, mock_config
 ):
-    old_config = mock_config.model_copy()
+    old_config = mock_config.model_copy(deep=True)
     old_config.namespace = "old-namespace"
     mock_get_state.return_value = old_config
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def test_check_immutable_fields_mutable_change(
 def test_check_immutable_fields_immutable_change(
     mock_model_fields, mock_get_state, terraform_state_stage, mock_config
 ):
-    old_config = mock_config.model_copy()
+    old_config = mock_config.model_copy(deep=True)
     old_config.provider = schema.ProviderEnum.gcp
     mock_get_state.return_value = old_config
 
@@ -71,3 +71,23 @@ def test_check_immutable_fields_no_prior_state(mock_get_state, terraform_state_s
 
     # This should not raise an exception
     terraform_state_stage.check_immutable_fields()
+
+
+@patch.object(TerraformStateStage, "get_nebari_config_state")
+def test_check_dict_value_change(mock_get_state, terraform_state_stage, mock_config):
+    old_config = mock_config.model_copy(deep=True)
+    terraform_state_stage.config.local.node_selectors["worker"].value += "new_value"
+    mock_get_state.return_value = old_config
+
+    # should not throw an exception
+    terraform_state_stage.check_immutable_fields()
+
+
+@patch.object(TerraformStateStage, "get_nebari_config_state")
+def test_check_list_change(mock_get_state, terraform_state_stage, mock_config):
+    old_config = mock_config.model_copy(deep=True)
+    old_config.environments["environment-dask.yaml"].channels.append("defaults")
+    mock_get_state.return_value = old_config
+
+    # should not throw an exception
+    terraform_state_stage.check_immutable_fields()