diff --git a/sanic_openapi/swagger.py b/sanic_openapi/swagger.py
index b3de865..12dd176 100644
--- a/sanic_openapi/swagger.py
+++ b/sanic_openapi/swagger.py
@@ -213,6 +213,9 @@ def build_spec(app, loop):
                 if "$ref" in route_param:
                     route_param["schema"] = {"$ref": route_param["$ref"]}
                     del route_param["$ref"]
+                    if 'type' in route_param:
+                        route_param["schema"]['type'] = route_param['type']
+                        del route_param['type']
 
                 route_parameters.append(route_param)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_decorators.py b/tests/test_decorators.py
index e04112e..1422002 100644
--- a/tests/test_decorators.py
+++ b/tests/test_decorators.py
@@ -95,11 +95,11 @@ class TestSchema:
             {"location": "body", "required": True, "content_type": "application/json"},
             [
                 {
-                    "type": "object",
                     "required": True,
                     "in": "body",
                     "name": "body",
-                    "schema": {"$ref": "#/definitions/TestSchema"},
+                    "schema": {"$ref": "#/definitions/TestSchema",
+                               "type": "object"},
                 }
             ],
         ),