diff --git a/internal/bundlegen/generateapi.go b/internal/bundlegen/generateapi.go
index 68a9bfdc6..909759750 100644
--- a/internal/bundlegen/generateapi.go
+++ b/internal/bundlegen/generateapi.go
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ func LoadDocumentFromFile(filePath string, validate bool, formatValidation bool)
 	var jsonContent []byte
 
 	// see ./test/circular-reference.json and https://github.com/apigee/apigeecli/issues/199
-	openapi3.CircularReferenceCounter = 10
+	openapi3.CircularReferenceCounter = 20
 
 	doc, err = openapi3.NewLoader().LoadFromFile(filePath)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -162,6 +162,9 @@ func LoadDocumentFromURI(uri string, validate bool, formatValidation bool) (stri
 		return "", nil, err
 	}
 
+	// see ./test/circular-reference.json and https://github.com/apigee/apigeecli/issues/199
+	openapi3.CircularReferenceCounter = 20
+
 	doc, err = openapi3.NewLoader().LoadFromURI(u)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", nil, err