diff --git a/tests/draft3/ref.json b/tests/draft3/ref.json
index 903ecb6b..d7ce9d4f 100644
--- a/tests/draft3/ref.json
+++ b/tests/draft3/ref.json
@@ -125,17 +125,21 @@
                 "b": {"$ref": "#/definitions/a"},
                 "c": {"$ref": "#/definitions/b"}
             },
-            "$ref": "#/definitions/c"
+            "properties": {
+                "foo": {
+                    "$ref": "#/definitions/c"
+                }
+            }
         },
         "tests": [
             {
                 "description": "nested ref valid",
-                "data": 5,
+                "data": {"foo": 5},
                 "valid": true
             },
             {
                 "description": "nested ref invalid",
-                "data": "a",
+                "data": {"foo": "a"},
                 "valid": false
             }
         ]
diff --git a/tests/draft4/ref.json b/tests/draft4/ref.json
index fe5aa901..69e94bbd 100644
--- a/tests/draft4/ref.json
+++ b/tests/draft4/ref.json
@@ -125,17 +125,21 @@
                 "b": {"$ref": "#/definitions/a"},
                 "c": {"$ref": "#/definitions/b"}
             },
-            "$ref": "#/definitions/c"
+            "properties": {
+                "foo": {
+                    "$ref": "#/definitions/c"
+                }
+            }
         },
         "tests": [
             {
                 "description": "nested ref valid",
-                "data": 5,
+                "data": {"foo": 5},
                 "valid": true
             },
             {
                 "description": "nested ref invalid",
-                "data": "a",
+                "data": {"foo": "a"},
                 "valid": false
             }
         ]