diff --git a/openapi3/internalize_refs_test.go b/openapi3/internalize_refs_test.go
index b1ca846d2..fe6b29d90 100644
--- a/openapi3/internalize_refs_test.go
+++ b/openapi3/internalize_refs_test.go
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ package openapi3
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
 	"regexp"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -41,25 +41,25 @@ func TestInternalizeRefs(t *testing.T) {
 			err = doc.Validate(ctx)
 			require.NoError(t, err, "validating internalized spec")
 
-			data, err := doc.MarshalJSON()
+			actual, err := doc.MarshalJSON()
 			require.NoError(t, err, "marshalling internalized spec")
 
 			// run a static check over the file, making sure each occurence of a
 			// reference is followed by a #
-			numRefs := len(regexpRef.FindAll(data, -1))
-			numInternalRefs := len(regexpRefInternal.FindAll(data, -1))
+			numRefs := len(regexpRef.FindAll(actual, -1))
+			numInternalRefs := len(regexpRefInternal.FindAll(actual, -1))
 			require.Equal(t, numRefs, numInternalRefs, "checking all references are internal")
 
-			// load from data, but with the path set to the current directory
-			doc2, err := sl.LoadFromData(data)
+			// load from actual, but with the path set to the current directory
+			doc2, err := sl.LoadFromData(actual)
 			require.NoError(t, err, "reloading spec")
 			err = doc2.Validate(ctx)
 			require.NoError(t, err, "validating reloaded spec")
 
 			// compare with expected
-			data0, err := ioutil.ReadFile(test.filename + ".internalized.yml")
+			expected, err := os.ReadFile(test.filename + ".internalized.yml")
 			require.NoError(t, err)
-			require.JSONEq(t, string(data), string(data0))
+			require.JSONEq(t, string(expected), string(actual))
 		})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/openapi3/loader.go b/openapi3/loader.go
index 28836f329..9ed8e3076 100644
--- a/openapi3/loader.go
+++ b/openapi3/loader.go
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ type Loader struct {
 
 	Context context.Context
 
-	rootDir string
+	rootDir      string
+	rootLocation string
 
 	visitedPathItemRefs map[string]struct{}
 
@@ -148,6 +149,7 @@ func (loader *Loader) LoadFromDataWithPath(data []byte, location *url.URL) (*T,
 func (loader *Loader) loadFromDataWithPathInternal(data []byte, location *url.URL) (*T, error) {
 	if loader.visitedDocuments == nil {
 		loader.visitedDocuments = make(map[string]*T)
+		loader.rootLocation = location.Path
 	}
 	uri := location.String()
 	if doc, ok := loader.visitedDocuments[uri]; ok {
@@ -420,6 +422,11 @@ func (loader *Loader) documentPathForRecursiveRef(current *url.URL, resolvedRef
 	if loader.rootDir == "" {
 		return current
 	}
+
+	if resolvedRef == "" {
+		return &url.URL{Path: loader.rootLocation}
+	}
+
 	return &url.URL{Path: path.Join(loader.rootDir, resolvedRef)}
 }
 
diff --git a/openapi3/loader_recursive_ref_test.go b/openapi3/loader_recursive_ref_test.go
index 5b7c1506e..924cb6be8 100644
--- a/openapi3/loader_recursive_ref_test.go
+++ b/openapi3/loader_recursive_ref_test.go
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ func TestLoaderSupportsRecursiveReference(t *testing.T) {
 	err = doc.Validate(loader.Context)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, "bar", doc.Paths["/foo"].Get.Responses.Get(200).Value.Content.Get("application/json").Schema.Value.Properties["foo2"].Value.Properties["foo"].Value.Properties["bar"].Value.Example)
+	require.Equal(t, "ErrorDetails", doc.Paths["/foo"].Get.Responses.Get(400).Value.Content.Get("application/json").Schema.Value.Title)
+	require.Equal(t, "ErrorDetails", doc.Paths["/double-ref-foo"].Get.Responses.Get(400).Value.Content.Get("application/json").Schema.Value.Title)
 }
 
 func TestIssue447(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/openapi3/testdata/recursiveRef/components/models/error.yaml b/openapi3/testdata/recursiveRef/components/models/error.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b4d404793
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openapi3/testdata/recursiveRef/components/models/error.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+type: object
+title: ErrorDetails
diff --git a/openapi3/testdata/recursiveRef/openapi.yml b/openapi3/testdata/recursiveRef/openapi.yml
index 675722a60..9f884c710 100644
--- a/openapi3/testdata/recursiveRef/openapi.yml
+++ b/openapi3/testdata/recursiveRef/openapi.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,13 @@ info:
 paths:
   /foo:
     $ref: ./paths/foo.yml
+  /double-ref-foo:
+    get:
+      summary: Double ref response
+      description: Reference response with double reference.
+      responses:
+        "400":
+          $ref: "#/components/responses/400"
 components:
   schemas:
     Foo:
@@ -15,3 +22,12 @@ components:
       $ref: ./components/Bar.yml
     Cat:
       $ref: ./components/Cat.yml
+    Error:
+      $ref: ./components/models/error.yaml
+  responses:
+    "400":
+      description: 400 Bad Request
+      content:
+        application/json:
+          schema:
+            $ref: "#/components/schemas/Error"
diff --git a/openapi3/testdata/recursiveRef/openapi.yml.internalized.yml b/openapi3/testdata/recursiveRef/openapi.yml.internalized.yml
index 073059025..0d508527a 100644
--- a/openapi3/testdata/recursiveRef/openapi.yml.internalized.yml
+++ b/openapi3/testdata/recursiveRef/openapi.yml.internalized.yml
@@ -9,11 +9,27 @@
         }
       }
     },
+    "responses": {
+      "400": {
+        "content": {
+          "application/json": {
+            "schema": {
+              "$ref": "#/components/schemas/Error"
+            }
+          }
+        },
+        "description": "400 Bad Request"
+      }
+    },
     "schemas": {
       "Bar": {
         "example": "bar",
         "type": "string"
       },
+      "Error":{
+        "title":"ErrorDetails",
+        "type":"object"
+      },
       "Foo": {
         "properties": {
           "bar": {
@@ -30,6 +46,10 @@
         },
         "type": "object"
       },
+      "error":{
+        "title":"ErrorDetails",
+        "type":"object"
+      },
       "Cat": {
         "properties": {
           "cat": {
@@ -46,6 +66,17 @@
   },
   "openapi": "3.0.3",
   "paths": {
+    "/double-ref-foo": {
+      "get": {
+        "description": "Reference response with double reference.",
+        "responses": {
+          "400": {
+            "$ref": "#/components/responses/400"
+          }
+        },
+        "summary": "Double ref response"
+      }
+    },
     "/foo": {
       "get": {
         "responses": {
@@ -63,6 +94,9 @@
               }
             },
             "description": "OK"
+          },
+          "400": {
+            "$ref": "#/components/responses/400"
           }
         }
       },
diff --git a/openapi3/testdata/recursiveRef/paths/foo.yml b/openapi3/testdata/recursiveRef/paths/foo.yml
index 43e03b7ab..4c845b532 100644
--- a/openapi3/testdata/recursiveRef/paths/foo.yml
+++ b/openapi3/testdata/recursiveRef/paths/foo.yml
@@ -11,3 +11,5 @@ get:
             properties:
               foo2:
                 $ref: ../openapi.yml#/components/schemas/Foo2
+    "400":
+      $ref: "../openapi.yml#/components/responses/400"