diff --git a/projects/yamlschema/test_yamlschema.py b/projects/yamlschema/test_yamlschema.py
index 2e50678..f03834e 100644
--- a/projects/yamlschema/test_yamlschema.py
+++ b/projects/yamlschema/test_yamlschema.py
@@ -98,3 +98,22 @@ def test_lint_document_ok(schema, obj):
 )
 def test_lint_document_fails(msg, schema, obj):
     assert list(lint_buffer(schema, obj)), msg
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("msg, schema, obj", [
+    ("Basic usage of $ref",
+     {"$ref": "#/definitions/Foo",
+      "definitions": {
+          "Foo": {"type": "string"},
+      }},
+     "---\nfoo"),
+    ("Use of nested references",
+     {"$ref": "#/definitions/Foos",
+      "definitions": {
+          "Foos": {"type": "array", "items": {"$ref": "#/definitions/Foo"}},
+          "Foo": {"type": "string"},
+      }},
+     "---\n- foo\n- bar\n- baz"),
+])
+def test_ref_references(msg, schema, obj):
+    assert not list(lint_buffer(schema, obj)), msg
diff --git a/projects/yamlschema/yamlschema.py b/projects/yamlschema/yamlschema.py
index 0cb7c54..1f023b5 100644
--- a/projects/yamlschema/yamlschema.py
+++ b/projects/yamlschema/yamlschema.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class YamlLinter(object):
             path = ref.lstrip("#/").split("/")
             schema = self._schema
             for e in path:
-                if not (schema := path.get(e)):
+                if not (schema := schema.get(e)):
                     raise ValueError(f"Unable to dereference {ref}")
 
         return schema