diff --git a/ogc/bblocks/util.py b/ogc/bblocks/util.py
index e41bc64..2076cc2 100644
--- a/ogc/bblocks/util.py
+++ b/ogc/bblocks/util.py
@@ -72,7 +72,10 @@ def __init__(self, identifier: str, metadata_file: Path,
             except Exception as e:
                 raise BuildingBlockError('Error validating building block metadata') from e
 
-            self.metadata['itemIdentifier'] = identifier
+            self.metadata = {
+                'itemIdentifier': identifier,
+                **self.metadata,
+            }
 
         self._lazy_properties = {}
 
@@ -562,13 +565,13 @@ def resolve_schema_reference(ref: str,
 
     ref = schema.pop(BBLOCKS_REF_ANNOTATION, ref)
 
-    if (from_bblock.schema.is_file() or from_bblock.metadata.get('schema')) and not is_url(ref):
+    if ref[0] != '#' and (from_bblock.schema.is_file() or from_bblock.metadata.get('schema')) and not is_url(ref):
         # Update local $ref if not to another bblock schema
         if from_bblock.schema.is_file():
             original = from_bblock.schema.parent / ref
         else:
             original = from_bblock.files_path / ref
-        if (original.stem != 'schema' or original.prefix not in ('.json', '.yaml')
+        if (original.stem != 'schema' or original.suffix not in ('.json', '.yaml')
                 or not original.parent.joinpath('bblock.json').is_file()):
             # $ref is to non-bblock canonical schema.json/schema.yaml -> update
             ref = os.path.relpath(original, from_bblock.annotated_path)