diff --git a/bids-validator/validators/json/json.js b/bids-validator/validators/json/json.js
index 2f0e63445..a6b01a9ce 100644
--- a/bids-validator/validators/json/json.js
+++ b/bids-validator/validators/json/json.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import utils from '../../utils'
 import Ajv from 'ajv'
-const ajv = new Ajv({ allErrors: true })
+const ajv = new Ajv({ allErrors: true, strictSchema: false })
 ajv.addMetaSchema(require('ajv/lib/refs/json-schema-draft-06.json'))
 ajv.addSchema(require('./schemas/common_definitions.json'))
 const Issue = utils.issues.Issue