diff --git a/schemas/v3.1/schema.json b/schemas/v3.1/schema.json
index 778b2edfa8..eb1544aae4 100644
--- a/schemas/v3.1/schema.json
+++ b/schemas/v3.1/schema.json
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@
       "type": "object",
       "patternProperties": {
         "^/": {
-          "$ref": "#/$defs/path-item"
+          "$ref": "#/$defs/path-item-or-reference"
         }
       },
       "$ref": "#/$defs/specification-extensions",
diff --git a/schemas/v3.1/schema.yaml b/schemas/v3.1/schema.yaml
index dd06b1ea80..9f7bd7f8b7 100644
--- a/schemas/v3.1/schema.yaml
+++ b/schemas/v3.1/schema.yaml
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ $defs:
     type: object
     patternProperties:
       '^/':
-        $ref: '#/$defs/path-item'
+        $ref: '#/$defs/path-item-or-reference'
     $ref: '#/$defs/specification-extensions'
     unevaluatedProperties: false