diff --git a/monasca_api/tests/test_query_helpers.py b/monasca_api/tests/test_query_helpers.py
index a409f9fdf..9de82acb7 100644
--- a/monasca_api/tests/test_query_helpers.py
+++ b/monasca_api/tests/test_query_helpers.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import unittest
 
 from mock import Mock
 
-from monasca_api.v2.common.exceptions import HTTPUnprocessableEntityError
 import monasca_api.v2.reference.helpers as helpers
 
 
@@ -92,12 +91,23 @@ class TestGetQueryDimension(unittest.TestCase):
         result = helpers.get_query_dimensions(req)
         self.assertEqual(result, {"Dimension_multi_value": "one|two|three"})
 
-    def test_malformed_dimension_extra_colons(self):
+    def test_dimension_with_multi_colons(self):
         req = Mock()
-        req.query_string = ("foo=bar&dimensions=Dimension:Value1:Value2")
+        req.query_string = ("foo=bar&dimensions=url:http://192.168.10.4:5601,"
+                            "hostname:monasca,component:kibana,service:monitoring")
 
-        self.assertRaises(
-            HTTPUnprocessableEntityError, helpers.get_query_dimensions, req)
+        result = helpers.get_query_dimensions(req)
+        self.assertEqual(result, {"url": "http://192.168.10.4:5601",
+                                  "hostname": "monasca",
+                                  "component": "kibana",
+                                  "service": "monitoring"})
+
+    def test_empty_dimension(self):
+        req = Mock()
+        req.query_string = ("foo=bar&dimensions=")
+
+        result = helpers.get_query_dimensions(req)
+        self.assertEqual(result, {})
 
 
 class TestGetOldQueryParams(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/monasca_api/v2/reference/helpers.py b/monasca_api/v2/reference/helpers.py
index 431daa68f..d5309fa71 100644
--- a/monasca_api/v2/reference/helpers.py
+++ b/monasca_api/v2/reference/helpers.py
@@ -164,13 +164,11 @@ def get_query_dimensions(req, param_key='dimensions'):
             raise Exception("Error parsing dimensions, unknown format")
 
         for dimension in dimensions_str_array:
-            dimension_name_value = dimension.split(':')
+            dimension_name_value = dimension.split(':', 1)
             if len(dimension_name_value) == 2:
                 dimensions[dimension_name_value[0]] = dimension_name_value[1]
             elif len(dimension_name_value) == 1:
                 dimensions[dimension_name_value[0]] = ""
-            else:
-                raise Exception('Dimensions are malformed')
         return dimensions
     except Exception as ex:
         LOG.debug(ex)
diff --git a/monasca_tempest_tests/tests/api/test_metrics.py b/monasca_tempest_tests/tests/api/test_metrics.py
index 123a7609a..5d6b17820 100644
--- a/monasca_tempest_tests/tests/api/test_metrics.py
+++ b/monasca_tempest_tests/tests/api/test_metrics.py
@@ -216,6 +216,42 @@ class TestMetrics(base.BaseMonascaTest):
                             "metrics = 0"
                 self.fail(error_msg)
 
+    @test.attr(type='gate')
+    def test_create_metric_with_colon_in_dimension_value(self):
+        name = data_utils.rand_name('name')
+        key = 'url'
+        value = 'http://localhost:8070/v2.0'
+        timestamp = int(round(time.time() * 1000))
+        time_iso = helpers.timestamp_to_iso(timestamp)
+        end_timestamp = int(round((time.time() + 3600 * 24) * 1000))
+        end_time_iso = helpers.timestamp_to_iso(end_timestamp)
+        metric = helpers.create_metric(name=name,
+                                       dimensions={key: value})
+        resp, response_body = self.monasca_client.create_metrics(metric)
+        self.assertEqual(204, resp.status)
+        query_param = '?name=' + name + '&start_time=' + time_iso + \
+                      '&end_time=' + end_time_iso + \
+                      '&dimensions=' + key + ':' + value
+        for i in xrange(constants.MAX_RETRIES):
+            resp, response_body = self.monasca_client. \
+                list_measurements(query_param)
+            self.assertEqual(200, resp.status)
+            elements = response_body['elements']
+            for element in elements:
+                if str(element['name']) == name:
+                    self._verify_list_measurements_element(element, key, value)
+                    measurement = element['measurements'][0]
+                    self._verify_list_measurements_measurement(
+                        measurement, metric, None, None)
+                    return
+            time.sleep(constants.RETRY_WAIT_SECS)
+            if i == constants.MAX_RETRIES - 1:
+                error_msg = "Failed test_create_metric: " \
+                            "timeout on waiting for metrics: at least " \
+                            "one metric is needed. Current number of " \
+                            "metrics = 0"
+                self.fail(error_msg)
+
     @test.attr(type='gate')
     @test.attr(type=['negative'])
     def test_create_metric_with_no_timestamp(self):