diff --git a/lib/core.ts b/lib/core.ts
index 3686ffe76..54f54411a 100644
--- a/lib/core.ts
+++ b/lib/core.ts
@@ -340,7 +340,10 @@ export default class Ajv {
   validate<T>(schema: Schema | JSONSchemaType<T> | string, data: unknown): data is T
   // Separated for type inference to work
   // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/unified-signatures
-  validate<T>(schema: JTDSchemaType<T>, data: unknown): data is T
+  validate<T, R extends Record<string, unknown>>(
+    schema: JTDSchemaType<T, R>,
+    data: unknown
+  ): data is T
   // This overload is only intended for typescript inference, the first
   // argument prevents manual type annotation from matching this overload
   validate<N extends never, T extends SomeJTDSchemaType>(
@@ -371,7 +374,10 @@ export default class Ajv {
   compile<T = unknown>(schema: Schema | JSONSchemaType<T>, _meta?: boolean): ValidateFunction<T>
   // Separated for type inference to work
   // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/unified-signatures
-  compile<T = unknown>(schema: JTDSchemaType<T>, _meta?: boolean): ValidateFunction<T>
+  compile<T = unknown, R extends Record<string, unknown> = Record<string, unknown>>(
+    schema: JTDSchemaType<T, R>,
+    _meta?: boolean
+  ): ValidateFunction<T>
   // This overload is only intended for typescript inference, the first
   // argument prevents manual type annotation from matching this overload
   compile<N extends never, T extends SomeJTDSchemaType>(
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 61ae2b999..ea5fcc975 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
   ],
   "scripts": {
     "eslint": "eslint \"lib/**/*.ts\" \"spec/**/*.*s\" --ignore-pattern spec/JSON-Schema-Test-Suite",
-    "prettier:write": "prettier --write \"./**/*.{json,yaml,js,ts}\"",
+    "prettier:write": "prettier --write --cache \"./**/*.{json,yaml,js,ts}\"",
     "prettier:check": "prettier --list-different \"./**/*.{json,yaml,js,ts}\"",
     "test-spec": "cross-env TS_NODE_PROJECT=spec/tsconfig.json mocha -r ts-node/register \"spec/**/*.spec.{ts,js}\" -R dot",
     "test-codegen": "nyc cross-env TS_NODE_PROJECT=spec/tsconfig.json mocha -r ts-node/register 'spec/codegen.spec.ts' -R spec",
diff --git a/spec/types/jtd-schema.spec.ts b/spec/types/jtd-schema.spec.ts
index 450577e10..683641b6c 100644
--- a/spec/types/jtd-schema.spec.ts
+++ b/spec/types/jtd-schema.spec.ts
@@ -353,12 +353,30 @@ describe("JTDSchemaType", () => {
   })
 
   it("should typecheck ref schemas", () => {
+    const ajv = new _Ajv()
     const refs: JTDSchemaType<number[], {num: number}> = {
       definitions: {
         num: {type: "float64"},
       },
       elements: {ref: "num"},
     }
+
+    // test that ajv.validate captures ref data type
+    const validData: unknown = [0]
+    if (ajv.validate(refs, validData)) {
+      const postValidation: number[] = validData
+      postValidation[0].should.equal(0)
+    }
+    should.not.exist(ajv.errors)
+
+    // test that ajv.compile captures ref data type
+    const validate = ajv.compile(refs)
+    if (validate(validData)) {
+      const postValidation: number[] = validData
+      postValidation[0].should.equal(0)
+    }
+    should.not.exist(validate.errors)
+
     const missingDef: JTDSchemaType<number[], {num: number}> = {
       // @ts-expect-error
       definitions: {},
@@ -393,6 +411,35 @@ describe("JTDSchemaType", () => {
     void [refs, missingDef, missingType, nullRefs, refsNullOne, refsNullTwo]
   })
 
+  it("should typecheck nested ref schemas", () => {
+    const ajv = new _Ajv()
+    const schema: JTDSchemaType<{str: string; ref: number}, {num: number}> = {
+      definitions: {
+        num: {type: "int32"},
+      },
+      properties: {
+        ref: {ref: "num"},
+        str: {type: "string"},
+      },
+    }
+
+    // test that ajv.validate captures ref data type
+    const validData: unknown = {str: "", ref: 0}
+    if (ajv.validate(schema, validData)) {
+      const validated: string = validData.str
+      validated.should.equal("")
+    }
+    should.not.exist(ajv.errors)
+
+    // test that ajv.compile captures ref data type
+    const validate = ajv.compile(schema)
+    if (validate(validData)) {
+      const validated: string = validData.str
+      validated.should.equal("")
+    }
+    should.not.exist(validate.errors)
+  })
+
   it("should typecheck metadata schemas", () => {
     const meta: JTDSchemaType<number> = {type: "float32", metadata: {key: "val"}}
     const emptyMeta: JTDSchemaType<unknown> = {metadata: {key: "val"}}