diff --git a/lib/frame.js b/lib/frame.js
index 27675fb7..1d55ba55 100644
--- a/lib/frame.js
+++ b/lib/frame.js
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ function _validateFrame(frame) {
   if('@type' in frame[0]) {
     for(const type of util.asArray(frame[0]['@type'])) {
       // @id must be wildcard or an IRI
-      if(!(types.isObject(type) || url.isAbsolute(type)) ||
+      if(!(types.isObject(type) || url.isAbsolute(type) || (type === '@json')) ||
         (types.isString(type) && type.indexOf('_:') === 0)) {
         throw new JsonLdError(
           'Invalid JSON-LD syntax; invalid @type in frame.',