diff --git a/tavern/_core/run.py b/tavern/_core/run.py
index 91474d38..1478331e 100644
--- a/tavern/_core/run.py
+++ b/tavern/_core/run.py
@@ -30,10 +30,25 @@
 logger: logging.Logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-def _resolve_test_stages(test_spec: Mapping, available_stages: Mapping):
+def _resolve_test_stages(
+    stages: List[Mapping], available_stages: Mapping
+) -> List[Mapping]:
+    """Looks for 'ref' stages in the given stages and returns any resolved stages
+
+    Args:
+        stages: list of stages to possibly replace
+        available_stages: included stages to possibly use in replacement
+
+    Returns:
+        list of stages that were included, if any
+    """
     # Need to get a final list of stages in the tests (resolving refs)
     test_stages = []
-    for raw_stage in test_spec["stages"]:
+
+    if not isinstance(stages, list):
+        raise exceptions.BadSchemaError("stages should have been a list")
+
+    for raw_stage in stages:
         stage = raw_stage
         if stage.get("type") == "ref":
             if "id" in stage:
@@ -67,7 +82,7 @@ def _get_included_stages(
     for use in this test
 
     Args:
-        tavern_box: Available parameters for fomatting at this point
+        tavern_box: Available parameters for formatting at this point
         test_block_config: Current test config dictionary
         test_spec: Specification for current test
         available_stages: List of stages which already exist
@@ -151,7 +166,8 @@ def run_test(
         tavern_box, test_block_config, test_spec, available_stages
     )
     all_stages = {s["id"]: s for s in available_stages + included_stages}
-    test_spec["stages"] = _resolve_test_stages(test_spec, all_stages)
+    test_spec["stages"] = _resolve_test_stages(test_spec["stages"], all_stages)
+    finally_stages = _resolve_test_stages(test_spec.get("finally", []), all_stages)
 
     test_block_config.variables["tavern"] = tavern_box["tavern"]
 
@@ -194,17 +210,22 @@ def getonly(stage):
                 if getonly(stage):
                     break
         finally:
-            finally_stages = test_spec.get("finally", [])
-            if not isinstance(finally_stages, list):
-                raise exceptions.BadSchemaError(
-                    f"finally block should be a list of dicts but was {type(finally_stages)}"
+            if finally_stages:
+                logger.info(
+                    "Running finally stages: %s", [s["name"] for s in finally_stages]
                 )
-            for idx, stage in enumerate(finally_stages):
-                if not isinstance(stage, dict):
+                if not isinstance(finally_stages, list):
                     raise exceptions.BadSchemaError(
-                        f"finally block should be a dict but was {type(stage)}"
+                        f"finally block should be a list of dicts but was {type(finally_stages)}"
                     )
-                runner.run_stage(idx, stage, is_final=True)
+                for idx, stage in enumerate(finally_stages):
+                    if not isinstance(stage, dict):
+                        raise exceptions.BadSchemaError(
+                            f"finally block should be a dict but was {type(stage)}"
+                        )
+                    runner.run_stage(idx, stage, is_final=True)
+            else:
+                logger.debug("no 'finally' stages to run")
 
 
 def _calculate_stage_strictness(
diff --git a/tavern/_core/schema/tests.jsonschema.yaml b/tavern/_core/schema/tests.jsonschema.yaml
index 6e426ec8..371f42f3 100644
--- a/tavern/_core/schema/tests.jsonschema.yaml
+++ b/tavern/_core/schema/tests.jsonschema.yaml
@@ -512,4 +512,6 @@ properties:
     description: Stages to run after test finishes
 
     items:
-      $ref: "#/definitions/stage"
+      oneOf:
+        - $ref: "#/definitions/stage"
+        - $ref: "#/definitions/stage_ref"
diff --git a/tests/integration/global_cfg.yaml b/tests/integration/global_cfg.yaml
index 386ef35e..401d5211 100644
--- a/tests/integration/global_cfg.yaml
+++ b/tests/integration/global_cfg.yaml
@@ -9,3 +9,12 @@ variables:
 
   retry_max: 4
   negative_int: -2
+
+stages:
+  - id: finally-nothing-check
+    name: finally nothing check
+    request:
+      url: "{global_host}/echo"
+      method: POST
+      json:
+        value: "123"
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_control_flow.tavern.yaml b/tests/integration/test_control_flow.tavern.yaml
index dbcdfcf1..1a3d54c4 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_control_flow.tavern.yaml
+++ b/tests/integration/test_control_flow.tavern.yaml
@@ -21,6 +21,25 @@ finally:
       json:
         value: "123"
 
+---
+test_name: Test finally block being replaced
+
+stages:
+  - name: Simple echo
+    request:
+      url: "{global_host}/echo"
+      method: POST
+      json:
+        value: "123"
+    response:
+      status_code: 200
+      json:
+        value: "123"
+
+finally:
+  - type: ref
+    id: finally-nothing-check
+
 ---
 test_name: Test finally block fail
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_core.py b/tests/unit/test_core.py
index e930d813..ad67a39f 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_core.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_core.py
@@ -162,6 +162,25 @@ def test_included_stage(self, fulltest, mockargs, includes, fake_stages):
 
         self.check_mocks_called(pmock)
 
+    def test_included_finally_stage(self, fulltest, mockargs, includes, fake_stages):
+        """Load stage from includes"""
+        mock_response = Mock(**mockargs)
+
+        stage_includes = [{"stages": fake_stages}]
+
+        newtest = deepcopy(fulltest)
+        newtest["includes"] = stage_includes
+        newtest["finally"] = [{"type": "ref", "id": "my_external_stage"}]
+
+        with patch(
+            "tavern._plugins.rest.request.requests.Session.request",
+            return_value=mock_response,
+        ) as pmock:
+            run_test("bloo", newtest, includes)
+
+        pmock.call_args_list = list(reversed(pmock.call_args_list))
+        self.check_mocks_called(pmock)
+
     def test_global_stage(self, fulltest, mockargs, includes, fake_stages):
         """Load stage from global config"""
         mock_response = Mock(**mockargs)