diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ed5a1b1..cb43548 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # nextflow-io/nf-validation: Changelog
 
+# Version 0.4.0
+
+- Add parameters defined on the top level of the schema and within the definitions section as expected params ([#79](https://github.com/nextflow-io/nf-validation/pull/79))
+
 ## Version 0.3.1
 
 ### Bug fixes
diff --git a/plugins/nf-validation/src/main/nextflow/validation/SchemaValidator.groovy b/plugins/nf-validation/src/main/nextflow/validation/SchemaValidator.groovy
index acf90c9..b8e3f9a 100644
--- a/plugins/nf-validation/src/main/nextflow/validation/SchemaValidator.groovy
+++ b/plugins/nf-validation/src/main/nextflow/validation/SchemaValidator.groovy
@@ -281,6 +281,12 @@ class SchemaValidator extends PluginExtensionPoint {
         def enumsTuple = collectEnums(schemaParams)
         def List expectedParams = (List) enumsTuple[0] + addExpectedParams()
         def Map enums = (Map) enumsTuple[1]
+        // Collect expected parameters from the schema when parameters are specified outside of "definitions"
+        if (parsed.containsKey('properties')) {
+            def enumsTupleTopLevel = collectEnums(['top_level': ['properties': parsed.get('properties')]])
+            expectedParams += (List) enumsTupleTopLevel[0]
+            enums += (Map) enumsTupleTopLevel[1]
+        }
 
         //=====================================================================//
         // Check if files or directories exist