diff --git a/src/jesse_validator_draft3.erl b/src/jesse_validator_draft3.erl
index 7a2b4ed2..d4e0bbaf 100644
--- a/src/jesse_validator_draft3.erl
+++ b/src/jesse_validator_draft3.erl
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@
                  , JsonSchema :: jesse:json_term()
                  , State      :: jesse_state:state()
                  ) -> jesse_state:state() | no_return().
+check_value(Value, [{?REF, RefSchemaURI} | _Attrs], State) ->
+  validate_ref(Value, RefSchemaURI, State);
 check_value(Value, [{?TYPE, Type} | Attrs], State) ->
   NewState = check_type(Value, Type, State),
   check_value(Value, Attrs, NewState);
@@ -210,9 +212,6 @@ check_value(Value, [{?DISALLOW, Disallow} | Attrs], State) ->
 check_value(Value, [{?EXTENDS, Extends} | Attrs], State) ->
   NewState = check_extends(Value, Extends, State),
   check_value(Value, Attrs, NewState);
-check_value(Value, [{?REF, RefSchemaURI} | Attrs], State) ->
-  NewState = validate_ref(Value, RefSchemaURI, State),
-  check_value(Value, Attrs, NewState);
 check_value(Value, [], State) ->
   maybe_external_check_value(Value, State);
 check_value(Value, [_Attr | Attrs], State) ->
diff --git a/src/jesse_validator_draft4.erl b/src/jesse_validator_draft4.erl
index 49c77903..d4a6ad79 100644
--- a/src/jesse_validator_draft4.erl
+++ b/src/jesse_validator_draft4.erl
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@
                  , JsonSchema :: jesse:json_term()
                  , State      :: jesse_state:state()
                  ) -> jesse_state:state() | no_return().
+check_value(Value, [{?REF, RefSchemaURI} | _Attrs], State) ->
+  validate_ref(Value, RefSchemaURI, State);
 check_value(Value, [{?TYPE, Type} | Attrs], State) ->
   NewState = check_type(Value, Type, State),
   check_value(Value, Attrs, NewState);
@@ -247,9 +249,6 @@ check_value(Value, [{?ONEOF, Schemas} | Attrs], State) ->
 check_value(Value, [{?NOT, Schema} | Attrs], State) ->
   NewState = check_not(Value, Schema, State),
   check_value(Value, Attrs, NewState);
-check_value(Value, [{?REF, RefSchemaURI} | Attrs], State) ->
-  NewState = validate_ref(Value, RefSchemaURI, State),
-  check_value(Value, Attrs, NewState);
 check_value(Value, [], State) ->
   maybe_external_check_value(Value, State);
 check_value(Value, [_Attr | Attrs], State) ->