diff --git a/pyneuroml/pynml.py b/pyneuroml/pynml.py
index d6f6816d..6f660b0a 100644
--- a/pyneuroml/pynml.py
+++ b/pyneuroml/pynml.py
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ def _evaluate_arguments(args):
 
     # Deal with the SBML validation option which doesn't call run_jneuroml
     if args.validate_sbml or args.validate_sbml_units:
-        file_types = ["sbml"]
+        file_types = ["sbml","xml"]
         try:
             from pyneuroml.sbml import validate_sbml_files
         except Exception:
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index ee29d3b8..c5dc1441 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [metadata]
 name = pyNeuroML
-version = 1.3.7
+version = 1.3.8
 author = Padraig Gleeson
 author_email = p.gleeson@gmail.com
 url = https://github.com/NeuroML/pyNeuroML