diff --git a/lib/helpers.js b/lib/helpers.js
index 28671bf..3f6b382 100644
--- a/lib/helpers.js
+++ b/lib/helpers.js
@@ -179,7 +179,8 @@ var convertValue = module.exports.convertValue = function (schema, options, valu
   var isDateTime;
 
   // If there is an explicit type provided, make sure it's one of the supported ones
-  if (_.has(schema, 'type') && types.indexOf(type) === -1) {
+  if (_.has(schema, 'type') && (((typeof type.valueOf() === 'string' && types.indexOf(type) === -1) ||
+    (Array.isArray(type) && type.some((t) => { return types.indexOf(t) === -1; }))))) {
     throw new TypeError('Invalid \'type\' value: ' + type);
   }
 
@@ -209,15 +210,27 @@ var convertValue = module.exports.convertValue = function (schema, options, valu
   }
 
   // Attempt to parse the string as JSON if the type is array or object
-  if (['array', 'object'].indexOf(type) > -1) {
+  if (type && type.valueOf() === 'string' && ['array', 'object'].indexOf(type) > -1) {
     try {
       value = JSON.parse(value);
     } catch (err) {
       // Nothing to do here, just fall through
     }
   }
-
-  switch (type) {
+  let typeToCheck = type;
+  if (type && Array.isArray(type)) {
+    if (Array.isArray(value) && type.indexOf('array') !== -1) {
+      typeToCheck = 'array';
+    } else if (value && typeof value.valueOf() === 'string' && type.indexOf('string') !== -1) {
+      typeToCheck = 'string';
+      if (options.collectionFormat) typeToCheck = 'array';
+    } else if (value && typeof value === 'number' && type.indexOf('number') !== -1) {
+      typeToCheck = 'number';
+    } else if (value && typeof value === 'boolean' && type.indexOf('boolean') !== -1) {
+      typeToCheck = 'boolean';
+    }
+  }
+  switch (typeToCheck) {
     case 'array':
       if (_.isString(value)) {
         if (collectionFormats.indexOf(options.collectionFormat) === -1) {