diff --git a/doc.go b/doc.go
index 351032c..d2b901e 100644
--- a/doc.go
+++ b/doc.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ Reported as errors:
 
 	[x] definition can't declare a property that's already defined by one of its ancestors
 	[x] definition's ancestor can't be a descendant of the same model
-	[x] path uniqueness: each api path should be non-verbatim (account for path param names) unique per method
+	[x] path uniqueness: each api path should be non-verbatim (account for path param names) unique per method. Validation can be laxed by disabling StrictPathParamUniqueness.
 	[x] each security reference should contain only unique scopes
 	[x] each security scope in a security definition should be unique
 	[x] parameters in path must be unique
diff --git a/options.go b/options.go
index deeec2f..8a22ce9 100644
--- a/options.go
+++ b/options.go
@@ -21,10 +21,28 @@ import "sync"
 // NOTE: other options might be needed, for example a go-swagger specific mode.
 type Opts struct {
 	ContinueOnErrors bool // true: continue reporting errors, even if spec is invalid
+
+	// StrictPathParamUniqueness enables a strict validation of paths that include
+	// path parameters. When true, it will enforce that for each method, the path
+	// is unique, regardless of path parameters such that GET:/petstore/{id} and
+	// GET:/petstore/{pet} anre considered duplicate paths.
+	//
+	// Consider disabling if path parameters can include slashes such as
+	// GET:/v1/{shelve} and GET:/v1/{book}, where the IDs are "shelve/*" and
+	// /"shelve/*/book/*" respectively.
+	StrictPathParamUniqueness bool
 }
 
 var (
-	defaultOpts      = Opts{ContinueOnErrors: false} // default is to stop validation on errors
+	defaultOpts = Opts{
+		// default is to stop validation on errors
+		ContinueOnErrors: false,
+
+		// StrictPathParamUniqueness is defaulted to true. This maintains existing
+		// behavior.
+		StrictPathParamUniqueness: true,
+	}
+
 	defaultOptsMutex = &sync.Mutex{}
 )
 
diff --git a/spec.go b/spec.go
index 47f291e..5b867dd 100644
--- a/spec.go
+++ b/spec.go
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ func (s *SpecValidator) validateRequiredProperties(path, in string, v *spec.Sche
 func (s *SpecValidator) validateParameters() *Result {
 	// - for each method, path is unique, regardless of path parameters
 	//   e.g. GET:/petstore/{id}, GET:/petstore/{pet}, GET:/petstore are
-	//   considered duplicate paths
+	//   considered duplicate paths, if StrictPathParamUniqueness is enabled.
 	// - each parameter should have a unique `name` and `type` combination
 	// - each operation should have only 1 parameter of type body
 	// - there must be at most 1 parameter in body
@@ -626,28 +626,30 @@ func (s *SpecValidator) validateParameters() *Result {
 	for method, pi := range s.expandedAnalyzer().Operations() {
 		methodPaths := make(map[string]map[string]string)
 		for path, op := range pi {
-			pathToAdd := pathHelp.stripParametersInPath(path)
+			if s.Options.StrictPathParamUniqueness {
+				pathToAdd := pathHelp.stripParametersInPath(path)
 
-			// Warn on garbled path afer param stripping
-			if rexGarbledPathSegment.MatchString(pathToAdd) {
-				res.AddWarnings(pathStrippedParamGarbledMsg(pathToAdd))
-			}
+				// Warn on garbled path afer param stripping
+				if rexGarbledPathSegment.MatchString(pathToAdd) {
+					res.AddWarnings(pathStrippedParamGarbledMsg(pathToAdd))
+				}
 
-			// Check uniqueness of stripped paths
-			if _, found := methodPaths[method][pathToAdd]; found {
+				// Check uniqueness of stripped paths
+				if _, found := methodPaths[method][pathToAdd]; found {
 
-				// Sort names for stable, testable output
-				if strings.Compare(path, methodPaths[method][pathToAdd]) < 0 {
-					res.AddErrors(pathOverlapMsg(path, methodPaths[method][pathToAdd]))
+					// Sort names for stable, testable output
+					if strings.Compare(path, methodPaths[method][pathToAdd]) < 0 {
+						res.AddErrors(pathOverlapMsg(path, methodPaths[method][pathToAdd]))
+					} else {
+						res.AddErrors(pathOverlapMsg(methodPaths[method][pathToAdd], path))
+					}
 				} else {
-					res.AddErrors(pathOverlapMsg(methodPaths[method][pathToAdd], path))
-				}
-			} else {
-				if _, found := methodPaths[method]; !found {
-					methodPaths[method] = map[string]string{}
-				}
-				methodPaths[method][pathToAdd] = path // Original non stripped path
+					if _, found := methodPaths[method]; !found {
+						methodPaths[method] = map[string]string{}
+					}
+					methodPaths[method][pathToAdd] = path // Original non stripped path
 
+				}
 			}
 
 			var bodyParams []string
diff --git a/spec_test.go b/spec_test.go
index 1ead2ea..d996a5d 100644
--- a/spec_test.go
+++ b/spec_test.go
@@ -451,6 +451,11 @@ func TestSpec_ValidateParameters(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Len(t, res.Errors, 1)
 	assert.Contains(t, res.Errors[0].Error(), "overlaps with")
 
+	// Disable strict path param uniqueness and ensure there is no error
+	validator.Options.StrictPathParamUniqueness = false
+	res = validator.validateParameters()
+	assert.Empty(t, res.Errors)
+
 	doc, _ = loads.Analyzed(PetStoreJSONMessage, "")
 	validator = NewSpecValidator(spec.MustLoadSwagger20Schema(), strfmt.Default)
 	validator.spec = doc