diff --git a/lib/test/test_yaml_loader.rb b/lib/test/test_yaml_loader.rb
index d502643f2..ee3be540b 100644
--- a/lib/test/test_yaml_loader.rb
+++ b/lib/test/test_yaml_loader.rb
@@ -208,70 +208,73 @@ def test_that_double_inherits_doesnt_delete_keys
     assert_equal({ "key1" => "value1", "key2" => "value2", "key3" => "value3_new", "key4" => "value4", "key5" => "value5", "key6" => "value6_new" }, doc["child"])
   end
 
-  def test_refs_in_the_same_document
-    yaml = <<~YAML
-      $defs:
-        target1: A string
-        target2:
-          a: hash
-
-      obj1:
-        $ref: "#/$defs/target2"
-
-      obj2:
-        $ref: "#/$defs/target2"
-        target2: Should disappear
-
-      obj3:
-        target2: Should disappear
-        $ref: "#/$defs/target2"
-    YAML
-
-    f = Tempfile.new("yml")
-    f.write(yaml)
-    f.flush
-
-    doc = YamlLoader.load(f.path)
-    assert_equal({ "a" => "hash" }, doc["obj1"])
-    assert_equal({ "a" => "hash" }, doc["obj2"])
-    assert_equal({ "a" => "hash" }, doc["obj3"])
-  end
-
-  def test_refs_in_the_different_document
-    yaml1 = <<~YAML
-      $defs:
-        target1: A string
-        target2:
-          a: hash
-    YAML
-
-    f1 = Tempfile.new("yml")
-    f1.write(yaml1)
-    f1.flush
-    f1_path = Pathname.new(f1.path)
-
-    yaml2 = <<~YAML
-      obj1:
-        $ref: "#{f1_path.basename}#/$defs/target2"
-
-      obj2:
-        $ref: "#{f1_path.basename}#/$defs/target2"
-        target2: Should disappear
-
-      obj3:
-        target2: Should disappear
-        $ref: "#{f1_path.basename}#/$defs/target2"
-    YAML
-
-    f2 = Tempfile.new("yml")
-    f2.write(yaml2)
-    f2.flush
-
-    doc = YamlLoader.load(f2.path)
-    assert_equal({ "a" => "hash" }, doc["obj1"])
-    assert_equal({ "a" => "hash" }, doc["obj2"])
-    assert_equal({ "a" => "hash" }, doc["obj3"])
-  end
+# Removed by @dhower-qc in https://github.com/riscv-software-src/riscv-unified-db/commit/7d10d70f122de6263ce7907dee8daeddc0a0af40
+# Waiting for response in https://github.com/riscv-software-src/riscv-unified-db/pull/271
+#
+#  def test_refs_in_the_same_document
+#    yaml = <<~YAML
+#      $defs:
+#        target1: A string
+#        target2:
+#          a: hash
+#
+#      obj1:
+#        $ref: "#/$defs/target2"
+#
+#      obj2:
+#        $ref: "#/$defs/target2"
+#        target2: Should disappear
+#
+#      obj3:
+#        target2: Should disappear
+#        $ref: "#/$defs/target2"
+#    YAML
+#
+#    f = Tempfile.new("yml")
+#    f.write(yaml)
+#    f.flush
+#
+#    doc = YamlLoader.load(f.path)
+#    assert_equal({ "a" => "hash" }, doc["obj1"])
+#    assert_equal({ "a" => "hash" }, doc["obj2"])
+#    assert_equal({ "a" => "hash" }, doc["obj3"])
+#  end
+#
+#  def test_refs_in_the_different_document
+#    yaml1 = <<~YAML
+#      $defs:
+#        target1: A string
+#        target2:
+#          a: hash
+#    YAML
+#
+#    f1 = Tempfile.new("yml")
+#    f1.write(yaml1)
+#    f1.flush
+#    f1_path = Pathname.new(f1.path)
+#
+#    yaml2 = <<~YAML
+#      obj1:
+#        $ref: "#{f1_path.basename}#/$defs/target2"
+#
+#      obj2:
+#        $ref: "#{f1_path.basename}#/$defs/target2"
+#        target2: Should disappear
+#
+#      obj3:
+#        target2: Should disappear
+#        $ref: "#{f1_path.basename}#/$defs/target2"
+#    YAML
+#
+#    f2 = Tempfile.new("yml")
+#    f2.write(yaml2)
+#    f2.flush
+#
+#    doc = YamlLoader.load(f2.path)
+#    assert_equal({ "a" => "hash" }, doc["obj1"])
+#    assert_equal({ "a" => "hash" }, doc["obj2"])
+#    assert_equal({ "a" => "hash" }, doc["obj3"])
+#  end
 
   def test_inherits_in_the_same_document
     yaml = <<~YAML
diff --git a/lib/yaml_loader.rb b/lib/yaml_loader.rb
index c545d369e..6a20ab155 100644
--- a/lib/yaml_loader.rb
+++ b/lib/yaml_loader.rb
@@ -63,8 +63,6 @@ def self.expand(filename, obj, yaml_opts = {})
       # we handle the inherits key first so that any override will take priority
       inherits = obj["$inherits"]
       raise ArgumentError, "Missing reference after $inherits (did you forget to put a relative reference in quotes?)" if inherits.nil?
-
-      # Create array of targets. If provided only one target as a string, convert it to an array of 1 element.
       inherits_targets = inherits.is_a?(String) ? [inherits] : inherits
 
       new_obj = {}
@@ -87,7 +85,22 @@ def self.expand(filename, obj, yaml_opts = {})
             unless File.exist?(target_filename)
               raise DereferenceError, "While locating $inherits in #{filename}, #{target_filename} does not exist"
             end
-            
+
+            YamlLoader.load(target_filename, yaml_opts)
+          end
+
+        inherits_target_suffix = inherits_target.split("#/")[1]
+        inherits_target_path = inherits_target_suffix.split("/")
+        begin
+          target_obj = target_obj.dig(*inherits_target_path) 
+        rescue TypeError => e
+          if e.message == "no implicit conversion of String into Integer"
+            warn "$inherits: \"#{inherits_target}\" found in file #{filename} references an Array but needs to reference a Hash"
+          end
+          raise e
+        end
+
+        raise DereferenceError, "JSON Path #{inherits_target_suffix} in file #{filename} does not exist in #{relative_path}" if target_obj.nil?
         raise ArgumentError, "$inherits: \"#{inherits_target}\" in file #{filename} references a #{target_obj.class} but needs to reference a Hash" unless target_obj.is_a?(Hash)
 
         target_obj = expand(filename, target_obj, yaml_opts)