see if this works

Author: rebrowning

st2common/st2common/util/schema/__init__.py

@@ -417,9 +417,16 @@ def validate(
     :type use_default: ``bool``
     """
     instance = fast_deepcopy_dict(instance)
-    schema_type = schema.get("type", None)
+    schema_type = None
+    if isinstance(schema, dict):
+        schema_type = schema.get("type", None)
+
     instance_is_dict = isinstance(instance, dict)
 
+    if isinstance(schema, dict) and ("type" in schema or "$schema" in schema):
+        jsonschema.validate(instance=instance, schema=schema, *args, **kwargs)
+        return instance
+
     if use_default and allow_default_none:
         schema = modify_schema_allow_default_none(schema=schema)