diff --git a/swagger_py_codegen/templates/sanic/schemas.tpl b/swagger_py_codegen/templates/sanic/schemas.tpl
index fd90c23..6d1f7f9 100644
--- a/swagger_py_codegen/templates/sanic/schemas.tpl
+++ b/swagger_py_codegen/templates/sanic/schemas.tpl
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 {% include '_do_not_change.tpl' %}
 import six
+from jsonschema import RefResolver
 
 base_path = '{{base_path}}'
 
@@ -58,4 +59,3 @@ security = Security()
 {{ merge_default }}
 
 {{ normalize }}
-
diff --git a/swagger_py_codegen/templates/sanic/validators.tpl b/swagger_py_codegen/templates/sanic/validators.tpl
index c5edc4d..e295418 100644
--- a/swagger_py_codegen/templates/sanic/validators.tpl
+++ b/swagger_py_codegen/templates/sanic/validators.tpl
@@ -95,6 +95,13 @@ class SanicValidatorAdaptor(object):
         for k, values in obj.items():
             prop = self.validator.schema['properties'].get(k, {})
             type_ = prop.get('type')
+            if type_ is None and '$ref' in prop:
+                ref = prop.get('$ref')
+                if not ref:
+                    continue
+                type_ = self.validator.resolver.resolve(prop.get('$ref'))[1].get('type')
+                if not type_:
+                    continue
             fun = convert_funs.get(type_, lambda v: v[0])
             if type_ == 'array':
                 item_type = prop.get('items', {}).get('type')
@@ -189,4 +196,4 @@ def response_filter(view):
             headers=headers,
         )
 
-    return wrapper
+    return wrapper
\ No newline at end of file