diff --git a/src/spec/PathItem.php b/src/spec/PathItem.php
index 236bda81..3bd05652 100644
--- a/src/spec/PathItem.php
+++ b/src/spec/PathItem.php
@@ -174,7 +174,8 @@ public function resolveReferences(ReferenceContext $context = null)
                     foreach ($this->$attribute as $k => $item) {
                         if ($item instanceof Reference) {
                             $referencedObject = $item->resolve();
-                            $this->$attribute[$k] = $referencedObject;
+                            $this->$attribute =
+                              [ $k => $referencedObject ] + $this->$attribute;
                             if (!$referencedObject instanceof Reference && $referencedObject !== null) {
                                 $referencedObject->resolveReferences();
                             }