diff --git a/datamodel/low/base/schema.go b/datamodel/low/base/schema.go
index 9b2fccf..56213f6 100644
--- a/datamodel/low/base/schema.go
+++ b/datamodel/low/base/schema.go
@@ -1254,10 +1254,12 @@ func ExtractSchema(ctx context.Context, root *yaml.Node, idx *index.SpecIndex) (
 	if rf, rl, _ := utils.IsNodeRefValue(root); rf {
 		// locate reference in index.
 		isRef = true
-		ref, _, _ := low.LocateRefNode(root, idx)
+		ref, fIdx, _, nCtx := low.LocateRefNodeWithContext(ctx, root, idx)
 		if ref != nil {
 			schNode = ref
 			schLabel = rl
+			ctx = nCtx
+			idx = fIdx
 		} else {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf(errStr,
 				root.Content[1].Value, root.Content[1].Line, root.Content[1].Column)
diff --git a/datamodel/low/extraction_functions.go b/datamodel/low/extraction_functions.go
index 4268213..6998f47 100644
--- a/datamodel/low/extraction_functions.go
+++ b/datamodel/low/extraction_functions.go
@@ -352,12 +352,14 @@ func ExtractArray[T Buildable[N], N any](ctx context.Context, label string, root
 	var ln, vn *yaml.Node
 	var circError error
 	root = utils.NodeAlias(root)
+	isRef := false
 	if rf, rl, _ := utils.IsNodeRefValue(root); rf {
-		ref, fIdx, err, nCtx := LocateRefNodeWithContext(ctx, root, idx)
+		ref, fIdx, err, nCtx := LocateRefEnd(ctx, root, idx, 0)
 		if ref != nil {
+			isRef = true
 			vn = ref
 			ln = rl
-			fIdx = fIdx
+			idx = fIdx
 			ctx = nCtx
 			if err != nil {
 				circError = err
@@ -370,8 +372,9 @@ func ExtractArray[T Buildable[N], N any](ctx context.Context, label string, root
 		_, ln, vn = utils.FindKeyNodeFullTop(label, root.Content)
 		if vn != nil {
 			if h, _, _ := utils.IsNodeRefValue(vn); h {
-				ref, fIdx, err, nCtx := LocateRefNodeWithContext(ctx, vn, idx)
+				ref, fIdx, err, nCtx := LocateRefEnd(ctx, vn, idx, 0)
 				if ref != nil {
+					isRef = true
 					vn = ref
 					idx = fIdx
 					ctx = nCtx
@@ -381,8 +384,9 @@ func ExtractArray[T Buildable[N], N any](ctx context.Context, label string, root
 					}
 				} else {
 					if err != nil {
-						return []ValueReference[T]{}, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("array build failed: reference cannot be found: %s",
-							err.Error())
+						return []ValueReference[T]{}, nil, nil,
+							fmt.Errorf("array build failed: reference cannot be found: %s",
+								err.Error())
 					}
 				}
 			}
@@ -392,7 +396,22 @@ func ExtractArray[T Buildable[N], N any](ctx context.Context, label string, root
 	var items []ValueReference[T]
 	if vn != nil && ln != nil {
 		if !utils.IsNodeArray(vn) {
-			return []ValueReference[T]{}, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("array build failed, input is not an array, line %d, column %d", vn.Line, vn.Column)
+
+			if !isRef {
+				return []ValueReference[T]{}, nil, nil,
+					fmt.Errorf("array build failed, input is not an array, line %d, column %d", vn.Line, vn.Column)
+			}
+			// if this was pulled from a ref, but it's not a sequence, check the label and see if anything comes out,
+			// and then check that is a sequence, if not, fail it.
+			_, _, fvn := utils.FindKeyNodeFullTop(label, vn.Content)
+			if fvn != nil {
+				if !utils.IsNodeArray(vn) {
+					return []ValueReference[T]{}, nil, nil,
+						fmt.Errorf("array build failed, input is not an array, line %d, column %d", vn.Line, vn.Column)
+				} else {
+					vn = fvn
+				}
+			}
 		}
 		for _, node := range vn.Content {
 			localReferenceValue := ""
@@ -402,7 +421,7 @@ func ExtractArray[T Buildable[N], N any](ctx context.Context, label string, root
 			foundIndex := idx
 
 			if rf, _, rv := utils.IsNodeRefValue(node); rf {
-				refg, fIdx, err, nCtx := LocateRefNodeWithContext(ctx, node, idx)
+				refg, fIdx, err, nCtx := LocateRefEnd(ctx, node, idx, 0)
 				if refg != nil {
 					node = refg
 					//localIsReference = true
@@ -601,11 +620,13 @@ func ExtractMapExtensions[PT Buildable[N], N any](
 	root = utils.NodeAlias(root)
 	if rf, rl, rv := utils.IsNodeRefValue(root); rf {
 		// locate reference in index.
-		ref, _, err := LocateRefNode(root, idx)
+		ref, fIdx, err, fCtx := LocateRefNodeWithContext(ctx, root, idx)
 		if ref != nil {
 			valueNode = ref
 			labelNode = rl
 			referenceValue = rv
+			ctx = fCtx
+			idx = fIdx
 			if err != nil {
 				circError = err
 			}
@@ -834,3 +855,27 @@ func GenerateHashString(v any) string {
 	}
 	return fmt.Sprintf(HASH, sha256.Sum256([]byte(fmt.Sprint(v))))
 }
+
+func LocateRefEnd(ctx context.Context, root *yaml.Node, idx *index.SpecIndex, depth int) (*yaml.Node, *index.SpecIndex, error, context.Context) {
+	depth++
+	if depth > 100 {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("reference resolution depth exceeded, possible circular reference"), ctx
+	}
+	ref, fIdx, err, nCtx := LocateRefNodeWithContext(ctx, root, idx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ref, fIdx, err, nCtx
+	}
+	if ref != nil {
+		if rf, _, _ := utils.IsNodeRefValue(ref); rf {
+			return LocateRefEnd(nCtx, ref, fIdx, depth)
+		} else {
+			return ref, fIdx, err, nCtx
+		}
+	} else {
+		if root.Content[1].Value == "" {
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("reference at line %d, column %d is empty, it cannot be resolved",
+				root.Content[1].Line, root.Content[1].Column), ctx
+		}
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("reference cannot be found: %s", root.Content[1].Value), ctx
+	}
+}
diff --git a/datamodel/low/extraction_functions_test.go b/datamodel/low/extraction_functions_test.go
index 3403f60..76316e2 100644
--- a/datamodel/low/extraction_functions_test.go
+++ b/datamodel/low/extraction_functions_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"crypto/sha256"
 	"fmt"
 	"golang.org/x/sync/syncmap"
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
@@ -15,7 +16,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/pb33f/libopenapi/index"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 func TestFindItemInMap(t *testing.T) {
@@ -748,7 +748,7 @@ func TestExtractArray_Ref_Circular(t *testing.T) {
 
 	things, _, _, err := ExtractArray[*test_Good](context.Background(), "", cNode.Content[0], idx)
 	assert.Error(t, err)
-	assert.Len(t, things, 0)
+	assert.Len(t, things, 2)
 }
 
 func TestExtractArray_Ref_Bad(t *testing.T) {
@@ -890,7 +890,7 @@ func TestExtractArray_Ref_Nested_CircularFlat(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, e)
 	things, _, _, err := ExtractArray[*test_Good](context.Background(), "limes", cNode.Content[0], idx)
 	assert.Error(t, err)
-	assert.Len(t, things, 0)
+	assert.Len(t, things, 2)
 }
 
 func TestExtractArray_BadBuild(t *testing.T) {
@@ -1950,7 +1950,7 @@ func TestLocateRefNode_DoARealLookup(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// fake cache to a lookup for a file that does not exist will work.
 	fakeCache := new(syncmap.Map)
-	fakeCache.Store("/root.yaml#/components/schemas/Burger", &index.Reference{Node: &no})
+	fakeCache.Store("/root.yaml#/components/schemas/Burger", &index.Reference{Node: &no, Index: idx})
 	idx.SetCache(fakeCache)
 
 	ctx := context.WithValue(context.Background(), index.CurrentPathKey, "/root.yaml#/components/schemas/Burger")
diff --git a/index/resolver.go b/index/resolver.go
index 4b074d6..fe8c8e0 100644
--- a/index/resolver.go
+++ b/index/resolver.go
@@ -265,6 +265,16 @@ func visitIndex(res *Resolver, idx *SpecIndex) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	schemas = idx.GetAllSecuritySchemes()
+	for s, schemaRef := range schemas {
+		if mappedIndex[s] == nil {
+			seenReferences := make(map[string]bool)
+			var journey []*Reference
+			res.journeysTaken++
+			schemaRef.Node.Content = res.VisitReference(schemaRef, seenReferences, journey, true)
+		}
+	}
+
 	// map everything
 	for _, sequenced := range idx.GetAllSequencedReferences() {
 		locatedDef := mappedIndex[sequenced.Definition]
@@ -279,7 +289,12 @@ func visitIndex(res *Resolver, idx *SpecIndex) {
 // VisitReference will visit a reference as part of a journey and will return resolved nodes.
 func (resolver *Resolver) VisitReference(ref *Reference, seen map[string]bool, journey []*Reference, resolve bool) []*yaml.Node {
 	resolver.referencesVisited++
-	if ref.Resolved || ref.Seen {
+	if resolve && ref.Seen {
+		if ref.Resolved {
+			return ref.Node.Content
+		}
+	}
+	if !resolve && ref.Seen {
 		return ref.Node.Content
 	}
 
@@ -342,13 +357,15 @@ func (resolver *Resolver) VisitReference(ref *Reference, seen map[string]bool, j
 			}
 			resolved := resolver.VisitReference(original, seen, journey, resolve)
 			if resolve && !original.Circular {
+				ref.Resolved = true
+				r.Resolved = true
 				r.Node.Content = resolved // this is where we perform the actual resolving.
 			}
 			r.Seen = true
 			ref.Seen = true
 		}
 	}
-	ref.Resolved = true
+
 	ref.Seen = true
 
 	return ref.Node.Content
@@ -521,6 +538,10 @@ func (resolver *Resolver) extractRelatives(ref *Reference, node, parent *yaml.No
 					continue
 				}
 
+				if resolve {
+					ref.Node = locatedRef.Node
+				}
+
 				schemaType := ""
 				if parent != nil {
 					_, arrayTypevn := utils.FindKeyNodeTop("type", parent.Content)
diff --git a/index/resolver_test.go b/index/resolver_test.go
index 597aea4..c9d16c5 100644
--- a/index/resolver_test.go
+++ b/index/resolver_test.go
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ components:
 	assert.NotNil(t, resolver)
 
 	err := resolver.Resolve()
-	assert.Len(t, err, 1)
+	assert.Len(t, err, 2)
 	assert.Equal(t, "cannot resolve reference `go home, I am drunk`, it's missing: $go home, I am drunk [18:11]", err[0].Error())
 }
 
diff --git a/index/search_index.go b/index/search_index.go
index cb3277e..16d107c 100644
--- a/index/search_index.go
+++ b/index/search_index.go
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ func (index *SpecIndex) SearchIndexForReferenceWithContext(ctx context.Context,
 func (index *SpecIndex) SearchIndexForReferenceByReferenceWithContext(ctx context.Context, searchRef *Reference) (*Reference, *SpecIndex, context.Context) {
 
 	if v, ok := index.cache.Load(searchRef.FullDefinition); ok {
-		return v.(*Reference), index, context.WithValue(ctx, CurrentPathKey, v.(*Reference).RemoteLocation)
+		//return v.(*Reference), index, context.WithValue(ctx, CurrentPathKey, v.(*Reference).RemoteLocation)
+		return v.(*Reference), v.(*Reference).Index, context.WithValue(ctx, CurrentPathKey, v.(*Reference).RemoteLocation)
 	}
 
 	ref := searchRef.FullDefinition
@@ -163,6 +164,16 @@ func (index *SpecIndex) SearchIndexForReferenceByReferenceWithContext(ctx contex
 				}
 			}
 		}
+	} else {
+		if r, ok := index.allMappedRefs[ref]; ok {
+			index.cache.Store(ref, r)
+			return r, r.Index, context.WithValue(ctx, CurrentPathKey, r.RemoteLocation)
+		}
+
+		if r, ok := index.allMappedRefs[refAlt]; ok {
+			index.cache.Store(refAlt, r)
+			return r, r.Index, context.WithValue(ctx, CurrentPathKey, r.RemoteLocation)
+		}
 	}
 
 	if index.logger != nil {
diff --git a/index/utility_methods.go b/index/utility_methods.go
index 0930502..48a710c 100644
--- a/index/utility_methods.go
+++ b/index/utility_methods.go
@@ -308,19 +308,24 @@ func (index *SpecIndex) extractComponentExamples(examplesNode *yaml.Node, pathPr
 }
 
 func (index *SpecIndex) extractComponentSecuritySchemes(securitySchemesNode *yaml.Node, pathPrefix string) {
+
 	var name string
-	for i, secScheme := range securitySchemesNode.Content {
+	for i, schema := range securitySchemesNode.Content {
 		if i%2 == 0 {
-			name = secScheme.Value
+			name = schema.Value
 			continue
 		}
 		def := fmt.Sprintf("%s%s", pathPrefix, name)
+		fullDef := fmt.Sprintf("%s%s", index.specAbsolutePath, def)
+
 		ref := &Reference{
-			Definition: def,
-			Name:       name,
-			Node:       secScheme,
-			ParentNode: securitySchemesNode,
-			Path:       fmt.Sprintf("$.components.securitySchemes.%s", name),
+			FullDefinition:        fullDef,
+			Definition:            def,
+			Name:                  name,
+			Node:                  schema,
+			Path:                  fmt.Sprintf("$.components.securitySchemes.%s", name),
+			ParentNode:            securitySchemesNode,
+			RequiredRefProperties: extractDefinitionRequiredRefProperties(securitySchemesNode, map[string][]string{}, fullDef, index),
 		}
 		index.allSecuritySchemes[def] = ref
 	}
@@ -340,6 +345,16 @@ func (index *SpecIndex) countUniqueInlineDuplicates() int {
 	return unique
 }
 
+func seekRefEnd(index *SpecIndex, refName string) *Reference {
+	ref, _ := index.SearchIndexForReference(refName)
+	if ref != nil {
+		if ok, _, v := utils.IsNodeRefValue(ref.Node); ok {
+			return seekRefEnd(ref.Index, v)
+		}
+	}
+	return ref
+}
+
 func (index *SpecIndex) scanOperationParams(params []*yaml.Node, pathItemNode *yaml.Node, method string) {
 	for i, param := range params {
 		// param is ref
@@ -349,7 +364,7 @@ func (index *SpecIndex) scanOperationParams(params []*yaml.Node, pathItemNode *y
 			paramRef := index.allMappedRefs[paramRefName]
 			if paramRef == nil {
 				// could be in the rolodex
-				ref, _ := index.SearchIndexForReference(paramRefName)
+				ref := seekRefEnd(index, paramRefName)
 				if ref != nil {
 					paramRef = ref
 				}