diff --git a/src/check_jsonschema/schema_loader/main.py b/src/check_jsonschema/schema_loader/main.py
index ef808becd..f819b85a8 100644
--- a/src/check_jsonschema/schema_loader/main.py
+++ b/src/check_jsonschema/schema_loader/main.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 import urllib.parse
 
 import jsonschema
+from jsonschema_specifications import REGISTRY as SPECIFICATIONS
 from referencing import Registry
 
 from ..builtin_schemas import get_builtin_schema
@@ -164,6 +165,11 @@ def _get_validator(
         reference_registry = make_reference_registry(
             self._parsers, retrieval_uri, schema, self.disable_cache
         )
+        reference_resolver = None
+        if retrieval_uri is not None and not isinstance(schema.get("$id"), str):
+            reference_resolver = SPECIFICATIONS.combine(reference_registry).resolver(
+                retrieval_uri
+            )
 
         if self.validator_class is None:
             # get the correct validator class and check the schema under its metaschema
@@ -195,6 +201,7 @@ def _get_validator(
         validator = validator_cls(  # type: ignore[call-arg]
             schema,
             registry=reference_registry,
+            _resolver=reference_resolver,
             format_checker=format_checker,
         )
         return t.cast(jsonschema.protocols.Validator, validator)
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/test_local_relative_ref.py b/tests/acceptance/test_local_relative_ref.py
index f421b69c9..fd7dc340d 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/test_local_relative_ref.py
+++ b/tests/acceptance/test_local_relative_ref.py
@@ -29,6 +29,26 @@
 CASE2_PASSING_DOCUMENT = {"test": "some data"}
 CASE2_FAILING_DOCUMENT = {"test": {"foo": "bar"}}
 
+CASE3_MAIN_SCHEMA = {
+    "type": "object",
+    "properties": {
+        "pupils": {
+            "type": "array",
+            "items": {"$ref": "../person/person.schema.json"},
+        }
+    },
+}
+CASE3_PERSON_SCHEMA = {
+    "type": "object",
+    "properties": {"address": {"$ref": "../address/address.schema.json"}},
+}
+CASE3_ADDRESS_SCHEMA = {
+    "type": "object",
+    "properties": {"zip_code": {"type": "number"}},
+}
+CASE3_PASSING_DOCUMENT = {"pupils": [{"address": {"zip_code": 12345}}]}
+CASE3_FAILING_DOCUMENT = {"pupils": [{"address": {"zip_code": "invalid"}}]}
+
 
 def _prep_files(tmp_path, main_schema, other_schema_data, instance):
     main_schemafile = tmp_path / "main_schema.json"
@@ -75,6 +95,34 @@ def test_local_ref_schema(
     run_line_simple(["--schemafile", schemafile, str(doc)])
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "instance, expect_err",
+    [
+        (CASE3_PASSING_DOCUMENT, None),
+        (CASE3_FAILING_DOCUMENT, "'invalid' is not of type 'number'"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_nested_local_ref_schema(run_line, tmp_path, instance, expect_err):
+    school_dir = tmp_path / "school"
+    person_dir = tmp_path / "person"
+    address_dir = tmp_path / "address"
+    school_dir.mkdir()
+    person_dir.mkdir()
+    address_dir.mkdir()
+
+    main_schemafile = school_dir / "school.schema.json"
+    main_schemafile.write_text(json.dumps(CASE3_MAIN_SCHEMA))
+    (person_dir / "person.schema.json").write_text(json.dumps(CASE3_PERSON_SCHEMA))
+    (address_dir / "address.schema.json").write_text(json.dumps(CASE3_ADDRESS_SCHEMA))
+    doc = school_dir / "school.example.json"
+    doc.write_text(json.dumps(instance))
+
+    res = run_line(["check-jsonschema", "--schemafile", str(main_schemafile), str(doc)])
+    assert res.exit_code == (1 if expect_err is not None else 0)
+    if expect_err is not None:
+        assert expect_err in res.stdout
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "main_schema, other_schema_data, instance, expect_err",
     [