diff --git a/config.schema.json b/config.schema.json
index d37ecac..7045704 100644
--- a/config.schema.json
+++ b/config.schema.json
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@
     }
   },
   "$defs": {
+    "instance": {
+      "description": "The shape of one `component.instances[]` entry. Tooling resolves instance config through this fixed name; the definition lives under its domain name below.",
+      "$ref": "#/$defs/route"
+    },
     "scriptEngine": {
       "type": "string",
       "enum": ["rhai", "lua"],