diff --git a/lib/merge_json.js b/lib/merge_json.js
index 0887049..8b87145 100644
--- a/lib/merge_json.js
+++ b/lib/merge_json.js
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ function removeJSONBlock (s) {
  * @api private
  */
 function mergeJSONByRef (param, dir, file, doc) {
-  return doc.replace(/\s*("\$ref")( *):( *)"[^"{}]+"\s*/gm, s => {
+  return doc.replace(/\s*("\$ref")( *):( *)"[^"]+"\s*/gm, s => {
     let ref = JSON.parse('{' + s + '}').$ref.trim()
     if (ref.startsWith('#/') && file !== param.input) {
       ref = cacheRef(path.basename(file) + ref)