diff --git a/mongoengine/base/fields.py b/mongoengine/base/fields.py
index 2bcdcfdf..9ba9dc9a 100644
--- a/mongoengine/base/fields.py
+++ b/mongoengine/base/fields.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class BaseField(object):
         """
         :param db_field: The database field to store this field in
             (defaults to the name of the field)
-        :param name: Depreciated - use db_field
+        :param name: Deprecated - use db_field
         :param required: If the field is required. Whether it has to have a
             value or not. Defaults to False.
         :param default: (optional) The default value for this field if no value
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class BaseField(object):
         self._owner_document = None
 
         # Validate the db_field
-        if self.db_field and (
+        if isinstance(self.db_field, six.string_types) and (
             '.' in self.db_field or
             '\0' in self.db_field or
             self.db_field.startswith('$')