diff --git a/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmdcreatesetter.go b/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmdcreatesetter.go
index 4e150efb9..d0eef24ba 100644
--- a/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmdcreatesetter.go
+++ b/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmdcreatesetter.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/cmd/config/internal/generateddocs/commands"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/cmd/config/runner"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/errors"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/openapi"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/setters2/settersutil"
 )
 
@@ -170,6 +171,10 @@ func (r *CreateSetterRunner) createSetter(c *cobra.Command, args []string) error
 }
 
 func (r *CreateSetterRunner) ExecuteCmd(w io.Writer, pkgPath string) error {
+	sc, err := openapi.SchemaFromFile(filepath.Join(pkgPath, ext.KRMFileName()))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	r.CreateSetter = settersutil.SetterCreator{
 		Name:               r.SetterName,
 		SetBy:              r.SetBy,
@@ -183,9 +188,10 @@ func (r *CreateSetterRunner) ExecuteCmd(w io.Writer, pkgPath string) error {
 		OpenAPIFileName:    ext.KRMFileName(),
 		OpenAPIPath:        filepath.Join(pkgPath, ext.KRMFileName()),
 		ResourcesPath:      pkgPath,
+		SettersSchema:      sc,
 	}
 
-	err := r.CreateSetter.Create()
+	err = r.CreateSetter.Create()
 	if err != nil {
 		// return err if RecurseSubPackages is false
 		if !r.CreateSetter.RecurseSubPackages {
diff --git a/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmdcreatesubstitution.go b/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmdcreatesubstitution.go
index bba09dc45..ece1869c2 100644
--- a/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmdcreatesubstitution.go
+++ b/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmdcreatesubstitution.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/cmd/config/ext"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/cmd/config/runner"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/openapi"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/setters2/settersutil"
 )
 
@@ -66,6 +67,10 @@ func (r *CreateSubstitutionRunner) runE(c *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 }
 
 func (r *CreateSubstitutionRunner) ExecuteCmd(w io.Writer, pkgPath string) error {
+	sc, err := openapi.SchemaFromFile(filepath.Join(pkgPath, ext.KRMFileName()))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	r.CreateSubstitution = settersutil.SubstitutionCreator{
 		Name:               r.CreateSubstitution.Name,
 		FieldName:          r.CreateSubstitution.FieldName,
@@ -75,9 +80,10 @@ func (r *CreateSubstitutionRunner) ExecuteCmd(w io.Writer, pkgPath string) error
 		OpenAPIFileName:    ext.KRMFileName(),
 		OpenAPIPath:        filepath.Join(pkgPath, ext.KRMFileName()),
 		ResourcesPath:      pkgPath,
+		SettersSchema:      sc,
 	}
 
-	err := r.CreateSubstitution.Create()
+	err = r.CreateSubstitution.Create()
 	if err != nil {
 		// return err if RecurseSubPackages is false
 		if !r.CreateSubstitution.RecurseSubPackages {
diff --git a/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmddeletesetter.go b/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmddeletesetter.go
index a4ae8e867..fbea3cf8c 100644
--- a/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmddeletesetter.go
+++ b/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmddeletesetter.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/cmd/config/internal/generateddocs/commands"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/cmd/config/runner"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/fieldmeta"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/openapi"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/setters2/settersutil"
 )
 
@@ -72,6 +73,10 @@ func (r *DeleteSetterRunner) runE(c *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 }
 
 func (r *DeleteSetterRunner) ExecuteCmd(w io.Writer, pkgPath string) error {
+	sc, err := openapi.SchemaFromFile(filepath.Join(pkgPath, ext.KRMFileName()))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	r.DeleteSetter = settersutil.DeleterCreator{
 		Name:               r.DeleteSetter.Name,
 		DefinitionPrefix:   fieldmeta.SetterDefinitionPrefix,
@@ -79,9 +84,10 @@ func (r *DeleteSetterRunner) ExecuteCmd(w io.Writer, pkgPath string) error {
 		OpenAPIFileName:    ext.KRMFileName(),
 		OpenAPIPath:        filepath.Join(pkgPath, ext.KRMFileName()),
 		ResourcesPath:      pkgPath,
+		SettersSchema:      sc,
 	}
 
-	err := r.DeleteSetter.Delete()
+	err = r.DeleteSetter.Delete()
 	if err != nil {
 		// return err if RecurseSubPackages is false
 		if !r.DeleteSetter.RecurseSubPackages {
diff --git a/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmddeletesubstitution.go b/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmddeletesubstitution.go
index dfd57e36c..a48bf40f9 100644
--- a/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmddeletesubstitution.go
+++ b/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmddeletesubstitution.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/cmd/config/ext"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/cmd/config/runner"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/fieldmeta"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/openapi"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/setters2/settersutil"
 )
 
@@ -68,6 +69,10 @@ func (r *DeleteSubstitutionRunner) runE(c *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 }
 
 func (r *DeleteSubstitutionRunner) ExecuteCmd(w io.Writer, pkgPath string) error {
+	sc, err := openapi.SchemaFromFile(filepath.Join(pkgPath, ext.KRMFileName()))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	r.DeleteSubstitution = settersutil.DeleterCreator{
 		Name:               r.DeleteSubstitution.Name,
 		DefinitionPrefix:   fieldmeta.SubstitutionDefinitionPrefix,
@@ -75,9 +80,10 @@ func (r *DeleteSubstitutionRunner) ExecuteCmd(w io.Writer, pkgPath string) error
 		OpenAPIFileName:    ext.KRMFileName(),
 		OpenAPIPath:        filepath.Join(pkgPath, ext.KRMFileName()),
 		ResourcesPath:      pkgPath,
+		SettersSchema:      sc,
 	}
 
-	err := r.DeleteSubstitution.Delete()
+	err = r.DeleteSubstitution.Delete()
 	if err != nil {
 		// return err if RecurseSubPackages is false
 		if !r.DeleteSubstitution.RecurseSubPackages {
diff --git a/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmdlistsetters.go b/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmdlistsetters.go
index a93624ba1..2cf8fa22d 100644
--- a/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmdlistsetters.go
+++ b/cmd/config/internal/commands/cmdlistsetters.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/cmd/config/internal/generateddocs/commands"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/cmd/config/runner"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/fieldmeta"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/openapi"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/setters2"
 )
 
@@ -80,9 +81,14 @@ func (r *ListSettersRunner) runE(c *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 }
 
 func (r *ListSettersRunner) ExecuteCmd(w io.Writer, pkgPath string) error {
+	sc, err := openapi.SchemaFromFile(filepath.Join(pkgPath, ext.KRMFileName()))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	r.List = setters2.List{
 		Name:            r.Name,
 		OpenAPIFileName: ext.KRMFileName(),
+		SettersSchema:   sc,
 	}
 	openAPIPath := filepath.Join(pkgPath, ext.KRMFileName())
 	if err := r.ListSetters(w, openAPIPath, pkgPath); err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/config/runner/runner.go b/cmd/config/runner/runner.go
index 3d58d368a..211eb58e4 100644
--- a/cmd/config/runner/runner.go
+++ b/cmd/config/runner/runner.go
@@ -7,13 +7,11 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/go-errors/errors"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/cmd/config/ext"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/openapi"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/pathutil"
 )
 
@@ -73,14 +71,6 @@ func (e ExecuteCmdOnPkgs) Execute() error {
 
 func (e ExecuteCmdOnPkgs) processPkg(pkgPath string) error {
 	// Add schema present in openAPI file for current package
-	if e.NeedOpenAPI {
-		clean, err := openapi.AddSchemaFromFile(filepath.Join(pkgPath, ext.KRMFileName()))
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		defer clean()
-	}
-
 	if !e.SkipPkgPathPrint {
 		fmt.Fprintf(e.Writer, "%s/\n", pkgPath)
 	}
diff --git a/kyaml/fieldmeta/fieldmeta.go b/kyaml/fieldmeta/fieldmeta.go
index 63d31174b..83fdff3d5 100644
--- a/kyaml/fieldmeta/fieldmeta.go
+++ b/kyaml/fieldmeta/fieldmeta.go
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ type FieldMeta struct {
 	Schema spec.Schema
 
 	Extensions XKustomize
+
+	SettersSchema *spec.Schema
 }
 
 type XKustomize struct {
@@ -108,7 +110,7 @@ func (fm *FieldMeta) processShortHand(comment string) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	if _, err := openapi.Resolve(&setterRef); err == nil {
+	if _, err := openapi.Resolve(&setterRef, fm.SettersSchema); err == nil {
 		setterErr := fm.Schema.UnmarshalJSON(setterRefBytes)
 		return setterErr == nil
 	}
@@ -123,7 +125,7 @@ func (fm *FieldMeta) processShortHand(comment string) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	if _, err := openapi.Resolve(&substRef); err == nil {
+	if _, err := openapi.Resolve(&substRef, fm.SettersSchema); err == nil {
 		substErr := fm.Schema.UnmarshalJSON(substRefBytes)
 		return substErr == nil
 	}
diff --git a/kyaml/openapi/openapi.go b/kyaml/openapi/openapi.go
index 409cf1d1f..cde50697e 100644
--- a/kyaml/openapi/openapi.go
+++ b/kyaml/openapi/openapi.go
@@ -70,23 +70,13 @@ const Definitions = "definitions"
 // The returned clean function is a no-op on error, or else it's a function
 // that the caller should use to remove the added openAPI definitions from
 // global schema
-func AddSchemaFromFile(path string) (func(), error) {
+func SchemaFromFile(path string) (*spec.Schema, error) {
 	object, err := parseOpenAPI(path)
 	if err != nil {
-		return func() {}, err
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	defs, err := definitionRefsFromRNode(object)
-	if err != nil {
-		return func() {}, err
-	}
-
-	clean := func() {
-		for _, def := range defs {
-			delete(globalSchema.schema.Definitions, def)
-		}
-	}
-	return clean, addSchemaUsingField(object, SupplementaryOpenAPIFieldName)
+	return schemaUsingField(object, SupplementaryOpenAPIFieldName)
 }
 
 // DefinitionRefs returns the list of openAPI definition references present in the
@@ -121,27 +111,27 @@ func parseOpenAPI(openAPIPath string) (*yaml.RNode, error) {
 
 	object, err := yaml.Parse(string(b))
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, errors.Errorf("invalid file %q: %v", openAPIPath, err)
 	}
 	return object, nil
 }
 
 // addSchemaUsingField parses the OpenAPI definitions from the specified field.
 // If field is the empty string, use the whole document as OpenAPI.
-func addSchemaUsingField(object *yaml.RNode, field string) error {
+func schemaUsingField(object *yaml.RNode, field string) (*spec.Schema, error) {
 	if field != "" {
 		// get the field containing the openAPI
 		m := object.Field(field)
 		if m.IsNilOrEmpty() {
 			// doesn't contain openAPI definitions
-			return nil
+			return nil, nil
 		}
 		object = m.Value
 	}
 
 	oAPI, err := object.String()
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	// convert the yaml openAPI to a JSON string by unmarshalling it to an
@@ -149,19 +139,20 @@ func addSchemaUsingField(object *yaml.RNode, field string) error {
 	var o interface{}
 	err = yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(oAPI), &o)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return nil, err
 	}
 	j, err := json.Marshal(o)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	// add the json schema to the global schema
-	err = AddSchema(j)
+	var sc spec.Schema
+	err = sc.UnmarshalJSON(j)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	return nil
+
+	return &sc, nil
 }
 
 // AddSchema parses s, and adds definitions from s to the global schema.
@@ -225,8 +216,8 @@ func toTypeMeta(ext interface{}) (yaml.TypeMeta, bool) {
 }
 
 // Resolve resolves the reference against the global schema
-func Resolve(ref *spec.Ref) (*spec.Schema, error) {
-	return resolve(Schema(), ref)
+func Resolve(ref *spec.Ref, schema *spec.Schema) (*spec.Schema, error) {
+	return resolve(schema, ref)
 }
 
 // Schema returns the global schema
@@ -236,13 +227,13 @@ func Schema() *spec.Schema {
 
 // GetSchema parses s into a ResourceSchema, resolving References within the
 // global schema.
-func GetSchema(s string) (*ResourceSchema, error) {
+func GetSchema(s string, schema *spec.Schema) (*ResourceSchema, error) {
 	var sc spec.Schema
 	if err := sc.UnmarshalJSON([]byte(s)); err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err)
 	}
 	if sc.Ref.String() != "" {
-		r, err := Resolve(&sc.Ref)
+		r, err := Resolve(&sc.Ref, schema)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, errors.Wrap(err)
 		}
@@ -287,7 +278,7 @@ func (rs *ResourceSchema) Elements() *ResourceSchema {
 	}
 	s := *rs.Schema.Items.Schema
 	for s.Ref.String() != "" {
-		sc, e := Resolve(&s.Ref)
+		sc, e := Resolve(&s.Ref, Schema())
 		if e != nil {
 			return nil
 		}
@@ -339,7 +330,7 @@ func (rs *ResourceSchema) Field(field string) *ResourceSchema {
 
 	// resolve the reference to the Schema if the Schema has one
 	for s.Ref.String() != "" {
-		sc, e := Resolve(&s.Ref)
+		sc, e := Resolve(&s.Ref, Schema())
 		if e != nil {
 			return nil
 		}
diff --git a/kyaml/openapi/openapi_test.go b/kyaml/openapi/openapi_test.go
index a5d38c221..ec2aee4ca 100644
--- a/kyaml/openapi/openapi_test.go
+++ b/kyaml/openapi/openapi_test.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func TestAddSchema(t *testing.T) {
 	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
-	s, err := GetSchema(`{"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.config.setters.replicas"}`)
+	s, err := GetSchema(`{"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.config.setters.replicas"}`, Schema())
 	if !assert.Greater(t, len(globalSchema.schema.Definitions), 200) {
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
@@ -31,26 +31,6 @@ func TestAddSchema(t *testing.T) {
 		fmt.Sprintf("%v", s.Schema.Extensions))
 }
 
-func TestNoUseBuiltInSchema_AddSchema(t *testing.T) {
-	// reset package vars
-	globalSchema = openapiData{}
-
-	SuppressBuiltInSchemaUse()
-	err := AddSchema(additionalSchema)
-	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-	s, err := GetSchema(`{"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.config.setters.replicas"}`)
-	if !assert.Equal(t, len(globalSchema.schema.Definitions), 1) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-	assert.Equal(t, `map[x-kustomize:map[setBy:Jane setter:map[name:replicas value:5]]]`,
-		fmt.Sprintf("%v", s.Schema.Extensions))
-}
-
 var additionalSchema = []byte(`
 {
   "definitions": {
@@ -124,7 +104,7 @@ func TestSchemaForResourceType(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestAddSchemaFromFile(t *testing.T) {
+func TestSchemaFromFile(t *testing.T) {
 	ResetOpenAPI()
 	inputyaml := `
 openAPI:
@@ -143,93 +123,23 @@ openAPI:
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
 
-	clean, err := AddSchemaFromFile(f.Name())
+	sc, err := SchemaFromFile(f.Name())
 	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
-	defer clean()
 
-	s, err := GetSchema(`{"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.cli.setters.image-name"}`)
+	s, err := GetSchema(`{"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.cli.setters.image-name"}`, sc)
 
 	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
-	if !assert.Greater(t, len(globalSchema.schema.Definitions), 200) {
+	if !assert.Greater(t, len(sc.Definitions), 0) {
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
 	assert.Equal(t, `map[x-k8s-cli:map[setter:map[name:image-name value:nginx]]]`,
 		fmt.Sprintf("%v", s.Schema.Extensions))
 }
 
-func TestDeleteSchemaInFile(t *testing.T) {
-	ResetOpenAPI()
-	inputyaml := `
-openAPI:
-  definitions:
-    io.k8s.cli.setters.image-name:
-      x-k8s-cli:
-        setter:
-          name: image-name
-          value: "nginx"
- `
-	f, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "openapi-")
-	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-	if !assert.NoError(t, ioutil.WriteFile(f.Name(), []byte(inputyaml), 0600)) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-
-	clean, err := AddSchemaFromFile(f.Name())
-	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-
-	s, err := GetSchema(`{"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.cli.setters.image-name"}`)
-
-	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-	if !assert.Greater(t, len(globalSchema.schema.Definitions), 200) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-	assert.Equal(t, `map[x-k8s-cli:map[setter:map[name:image-name value:nginx]]]`,
-		fmt.Sprintf("%v", s.Schema.Extensions))
-
-	clean()
-
-	_, err = GetSchema(`{"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.cli.setters.image-name"}`)
-
-	if !assert.Error(t, err) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-
-	if !assert.Equal(t, `object has no key "io.k8s.cli.setters.image-name"`, err.Error()) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-}
-
-func TestDeleteSchemaInFileNoDefs(t *testing.T) {
-	ResetOpenAPI()
-	inputyaml := `
-openAPI:
-  definitions:
- `
-	f, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "openapi-")
-	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-	if !assert.NoError(t, ioutil.WriteFile(f.Name(), []byte(inputyaml), 0600)) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-
-	clean, err := AddSchemaFromFile(f.Name())
-	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-	defer clean()
-}
-
 func TestPopulateDefsInOpenAPI_Substitution(t *testing.T) {
 	ResetOpenAPI()
 	inputyaml := `
@@ -265,18 +175,17 @@ openAPI:
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
 
-	clean, err := AddSchemaFromFile(f.Name())
+	sc, err := SchemaFromFile(f.Name())
 	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
-	defer clean()
 
-	s, err := GetSchema(`{"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.cli.substitutions.image"}`)
+	s, err := GetSchema(`{"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.cli.substitutions.image"}`, sc)
 
 	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
-	if !assert.Greater(t, len(globalSchema.schema.Definitions), 200) {
+	if !assert.Equal(t, len(sc.Definitions), 3) {
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
 
@@ -301,13 +210,12 @@ kind: Example
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
 
-	clean, err := AddSchemaFromFile(f.Name())
+	sc, err := SchemaFromFile(f.Name())
 	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
-	defer clean()
 
-	if !assert.Equal(t, len(globalSchema.schema.Definitions), 0) {
+	if !assert.Nil(t, sc) {
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
 }
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/add.go b/kyaml/setters2/add.go
index e67c08d8e..e0b3985e5 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/add.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/add.go
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ type Add struct {
 
 	// Count is the number of fields the setter applies to
 	Count int
+
+	SettersSchema *spec.Schema
 }
 
 // Filter implements yaml.Filter
@@ -50,7 +52,7 @@ func (a *Add) Filter(object *yaml.RNode) (*yaml.RNode, error) {
 	if a.Ref == "" {
 		return nil, errors.Errorf("must specify ref")
 	}
-	return object, accept(a, object)
+	return object, accept(a, object, a.SettersSchema)
 }
 
 func (a *Add) visitSequence(_ *yaml.RNode, _ string, _ *openapi.ResourceSchema) error {
@@ -115,7 +117,7 @@ func (a *Add) visitScalar(object *yaml.RNode, p string, _, _ *openapi.ResourceSc
 // addRef adds the setter/subst ref to the object node as a line comment
 func (a *Add) addRef(object *yaml.RNode) error {
 	// read the field metadata
-	fm := fieldmeta.FieldMeta{}
+	fm := fieldmeta.FieldMeta{SettersSchema: a.SettersSchema}
 	if err := fm.Read(object); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/delete.go b/kyaml/setters2/delete.go
index fe56aefe2..5228dfe48 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/delete.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/delete.go
@@ -20,11 +20,13 @@ type Delete struct {
 
 	// DefinitionPrefix is the prefix of the OpenAPI definition type
 	DefinitionPrefix string
+
+	SettersSchema *spec.Schema
 }
 
 // Filter implements yaml.Filter
 func (d *Delete) Filter(object *yaml.RNode) (*yaml.RNode, error) {
-	return object, accept(d, object)
+	return object, accept(d, object, d.SettersSchema)
 }
 
 func (d *Delete) visitSequence(_ *yaml.RNode, _ string, _ *openapi.ResourceSchema) error {
@@ -52,7 +54,7 @@ func (d *Delete) visitMapping(object *yaml.RNode, _ string, _ *openapi.ResourceS
 // visitScalar will remove the reference on each scalar field whose name matches.
 func (d *Delete) visitScalar(object *yaml.RNode, _ string, _, _ *openapi.ResourceSchema) error {
 	// read the field metadata
-	fm := fieldmeta.FieldMeta{}
+	fm := fieldmeta.FieldMeta{SettersSchema: d.SettersSchema}
 	if err := fm.Read(object); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/example_test.go b/kyaml/setters2/example_test.go
index fd86f4d7d..9fd15cffa 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/example_test.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/example_test.go
@@ -6,129 +6,9 @@ package setters2
 import (
 	"fmt"
 
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/openapi"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/yaml"
 )
 
-// ExampleSet demonstrates using Set to replace the current field value in an object
-func ExampleSet() {
-	openapi.ResetOpenAPI()
-
-	// OpenAPI definitions with setter extensions on definitions
-	schema := `
-{
-  "definitions": {
-    "io.k8s.cli.setters.replicas": {
-      "x-k8s-cli": {
-        "setter": {
-          "name": "replicas",
-          "value": "4"
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-}
-`
-	// Resource with field referencing OpenAPI definition
-	deployment := `
-apiVersion: apps/v1
-kind: Deployment
-metadata:
-  name: nginx-deployment
-spec:
-  replicas: 3 # {"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.cli.setters.replicas"}
-`
-	err := openapi.AddSchema([]byte(schema)) // add the schema definitions
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	}
-	object := yaml.MustParse(deployment)       // parse the configuration
-	err = object.PipeE(&Set{Name: "replicas"}) // set replicas from the setter
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	}
-
-	fmt.Println(object.MustString())
-
-	// Output:
-	// apiVersion: apps/v1
-	// kind: Deployment
-	// metadata:
-	//   name: nginx-deployment
-	// spec:
-	//   replicas: 4 # {"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.cli.setters.replicas"}
-}
-
-// ExampleSet_Substitution demonstrates using Set to substitute a value into the field of
-// an object.  Only part of the field value is modified.
-func ExampleSet_substitution() {
-	openapi.ResetOpenAPI()
-
-	// set the version setter
-	schema := `
-{
-  "definitions": {
-    "io.k8s.cli.setters.version": {
-      "x-k8s-cli": {
-        "setter": {
-          "name": "version",
-          "value": "1.8.1"
-        }
-      }
-    },
-    "io.k8s.cli.substitutions.image": {
-      "x-k8s-cli": {
-        "substitution": {
-          "name": "image",
-          "pattern": "nginx:VERSION",
-          "values": [
-            {"marker": "VERSION", "ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.cli.setters.version"}
-          ]
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  }
-}`
-
-	deployment := `
-apiVersion: apps/v1
-kind: Deployment
-metadata:
-  name: nginx-deployment
-spec:
-  template:
-    spec:
-      containers:
-      - name: nginx
-        image: nginx:1.7.9 # {"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.cli.substitutions.image"}
-`
-
-	err := openapi.AddSchema([]byte(schema)) // add the schema definitions
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	}
-	object := yaml.MustParse(deployment)      // parse the configuration
-	err = object.PipeE(&Set{Name: "version"}) // set replicas from the setter
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	}
-
-	// Print the object with the update value
-	fmt.Println(object.MustString())
-
-	// Output:
-	// apiVersion: apps/v1
-	// kind: Deployment
-	// metadata:
-	//   name: nginx-deployment
-	// spec:
-	//   template:
-	//     spec:
-	//       containers:
-	//       - name: nginx
-	//         image: nginx:1.8.1 # {"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.cli.substitutions.image"}
-}
-
 // ExampleAdd demonstrates adding a setter reference to fields.
 func ExampleAdd_fieldName() {
 	deployment := `
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/list.go b/kyaml/setters2/list.go
index ed91d98e8..8f7696926 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/list.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/list.go
@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@ import (
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/go-openapi/spec"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/errors"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/fieldmeta"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/kio"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/openapi"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/yaml"
 )
 
@@ -25,15 +25,12 @@ type List struct {
 	Setters []SetterDefinition
 
 	Substitutions []SubstitutionDefinition
+
+	SettersSchema *spec.Schema
 }
 
 // ListSetters initializes l.Setters with the setters from the OpenAPI definitions in the file
 func (l *List) ListSetters(openAPIPath, resourcePath string) error {
-	clean, err := openapi.AddSchemaFromFile(openAPIPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	defer clean()
 	y, err := yaml.ReadFile(openAPIPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -43,11 +40,6 @@ func (l *List) ListSetters(openAPIPath, resourcePath string) error {
 
 // ListSubst initializes l.Substitutions with the substitutions from the OpenAPI definitions in the file
 func (l *List) ListSubst(openAPIPath string) error {
-	clean, err := openapi.AddSchemaFromFile(openAPIPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	defer clean()
 	y, err := yaml.ReadFile(openAPIPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -193,7 +185,7 @@ func (l *List) listSubst(object *yaml.RNode) error {
 // set filter is leveraged for this but the resources are not written
 // back to files as only LocalPackageReader is invoked and not writer
 func (l *List) count(path, name string) (int, error) {
-	s := &Set{Name: name}
+	s := &Set{Name: name, SettersSchema: l.SettersSchema}
 	err := kio.Pipeline{
 		Inputs:  []kio.Reader{&kio.LocalPackageReader{PackagePath: path, PackageFileName: l.OpenAPIFileName}},
 		Filters: []kio.Filter{kio.FilterAll(s)},
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/list_test.go b/kyaml/setters2/list_test.go
index 291992060..cc8befc89 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/list_test.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/list_test.go
@@ -252,7 +252,6 @@ spec:
 		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			// reset the openAPI afterward
 			defer openapi.ResetOpenAPI()
-			initSchema(t, test.openapi)
 
 			f, err := ioutil.TempFile("", "k8s-cli-")
 			if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
@@ -275,7 +274,7 @@ spec:
 			}
 
 			// invoke the setter
-			instance := &List{Name: test.setter}
+			instance := &List{Name: test.setter, SettersSchema: SettersSchema(t, test.openapi)}
 			err = instance.ListSetters(f.Name(), r.Name())
 			if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
 				t.FailNow()
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/set.go b/kyaml/setters2/set.go
index d2b82d276..067f40915 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/set.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/set.go
@@ -32,11 +32,13 @@ type Set struct {
 
 	// SetAll if set to true will set all setters regardless of name
 	SetAll bool
+
+	SettersSchema *spec.Schema
 }
 
 // Filter implements Set as a yaml.Filter
 func (s *Set) Filter(object *yaml.RNode) (*yaml.RNode, error) {
-	return object, accept(s, object)
+	return object, accept(s, object, s.SettersSchema)
 }
 
 // isMatch returns true if the setter with name should have the field
@@ -81,9 +83,9 @@ func (s *Set) visitSequence(object *yaml.RNode, p string, schema *openapi.Resour
 }
 
 // visitScalar
-func (s *Set) visitScalar(object *yaml.RNode, p string, oa, setterSchema *openapi.ResourceSchema) error {
+func (s *Set) visitScalar(object *yaml.RNode, p string, oa, settersSchema *openapi.ResourceSchema) error {
 	// get the openAPI for this field describing how to apply the setter
-	ext, err := getExtFromComment(setterSchema)
+	ext, err := getExtFromComment(settersSchema)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -97,7 +99,7 @@ func (s *Set) visitScalar(object *yaml.RNode, p string, oa, setterSchema *openap
 	}
 
 	// perform a direct set of the field if it matches
-	ok, err := s.set(object, ext, k8sSchema, setterSchema.Schema)
+	ok, err := s.set(object, ext, k8sSchema, settersSchema.Schema)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -177,7 +179,7 @@ func (s *Set) substituteUtil(ext *CliExtension, visited sets.String, nameMatch *
 		if err != nil {
 			return "", errors.Wrap(err)
 		}
-		def, err := openapi.Resolve(&ref) // resolve the def to its openAPI def
+		def, err := openapi.Resolve(&ref, s.SettersSchema) // resolve the def to its openAPI def
 		if err != nil {
 			return "", errors.Wrap(err)
 		}
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/set_test.go b/kyaml/setters2/set_test.go
index 3387d5468..726d4ec5b 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/set_test.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/set_test.go
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@
 package setters2
 
 import (
-	"encoding/json"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -736,7 +738,6 @@ metadata:
 		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			// reset the openAPI afterward
 			defer openapi.ResetOpenAPI()
-			initSchema(t, test.openapi)
 
 			// parse the input to be modified
 			r, err := yaml.Parse(test.input)
@@ -745,7 +746,7 @@ metadata:
 			}
 
 			// invoke the setter
-			instance := &Set{Name: test.setter}
+			instance := &Set{Name: test.setter, SettersSchema: SettersSchema(t, test.openapi)}
 			result, err := instance.Filter(r)
 			if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
 				t.FailNow()
@@ -880,7 +881,6 @@ spec:
 		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			// reset the openAPI afterward
 			defer openapi.ResetOpenAPI()
-			initSchema(t, test.openapi)
 
 			// parse the input to be modified
 			var inputNodes []*yaml.RNode
@@ -893,7 +893,7 @@ spec:
 			}
 
 			// invoke the setter
-			instance := &Set{Name: test.setter}
+			instance := &Set{Name: test.setter, SettersSchema: SettersSchema(t, test.openapi)}
 			result, err := SetAll(instance).Filter(inputNodes)
 			if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
 				t.FailNow()
@@ -920,44 +920,19 @@ spec:
 }
 
 // initSchema initializes the openAPI with the definitions from s
-func initSchema(t *testing.T, s string) {
-	// parse out the schema from the input openAPI
-	y, err := yaml.Parse(s)
+func SettersSchema(t *testing.T, s string) *spec.Schema {
+	dir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "")
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	defer os.RemoveAll(dir)
+	err = ioutil.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "Krmfile"), []byte(s), 0600)
 	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
-	// get the field containing the openAPI
-	f := y.Field("openAPI")
-	if !assert.NotNil(t, f) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-	defs, err := f.Value.String()
-	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-
-	// convert the yaml openAPI to an interface{}
-	// which can be marshalled into json
-	var o interface{}
-	err = yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(defs), &o)
-	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-
-	// convert the interface{} into a json string
-	j, err := json.Marshal(o)
-	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-
-	// reset the openAPI to clear existing definitions
-	openapi.ResetOpenAPI()
-
-	// add the json schema to the global schema
-	err = openapi.AddSchema(j)
+	sc, err := openapi.SchemaFromFile(filepath.Join(dir, "Krmfile"))
 	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
+	return sc
 }
 
 func TestSetOpenAPI_Filter(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/deletecreator_test.go b/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/deletecreator_test.go
index d6987908b..600b0a277 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/deletecreator_test.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/deletecreator_test.go
@@ -65,17 +65,17 @@ func TestDeleterCreator_Delete(t *testing.T) {
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
 
+	sc, err := openapi.SchemaFromFile(openAPI.Name())
+	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
 	// add a delete creator
 	dc := DeleterCreator{
 		Name:             "image",
 		DefinitionPrefix: fieldmeta.SetterDefinitionPrefix,
+		SettersSchema:    sc,
 	}
 
-	clean, err := openapi.AddSchemaFromFile(openAPI.Name())
-	if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
-		t.FailNow()
-	}
-	defer clean()
 	dc.OpenAPIPath = openAPI.Name()
 	dc.ResourcesPath = resource.Name()
 
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/deletercreator.go b/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/deletercreator.go
index 0c695e3f5..9cbb82215 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/deletercreator.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/deletercreator.go
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 package settersutil
 
 import (
+	"github.com/go-openapi/spec"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/kio"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/openapi"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/setters2"
 )
 
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ type DeleterCreator struct {
 
 	// Path to resources folder
 	ResourcesPath string
+
+	SettersSchema *spec.Schema
 }
 
 func (d DeleterCreator) Delete() error {
@@ -38,13 +40,6 @@ func (d DeleterCreator) Delete() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// Load the updated definitions
-	clean, err := openapi.AddSchemaFromFile(d.OpenAPIPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	defer clean()
-
 	// Update the resources with the deleter reference
 	inout := &kio.LocalPackageReadWriter{PackagePath: d.ResourcesPath, PackageFileName: d.OpenAPIFileName}
 	return kio.Pipeline{
@@ -53,6 +48,7 @@ func (d DeleterCreator) Delete() error {
 			&setters2.Delete{
 				Name:             d.Name,
 				DefinitionPrefix: d.DefinitionPrefix,
+				SettersSchema:    d.SettersSchema,
 			})},
 		Outputs: []kio.Writer{inout},
 	}.Execute()
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/fieldsetter.go b/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/fieldsetter.go
index 60a3bae37..26e88cd17 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/fieldsetter.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/fieldsetter.go
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ package settersutil
 import (
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
 
+	"github.com/go-openapi/spec"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/kio"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/openapi"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/setters2"
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ type FieldSetter struct {
 	RecurseSubPackages bool
 
 	IsSet bool
+
+	SettersSchema *spec.Schema
 }
 
 func (fs *FieldSetter) Filter(input []*yaml.RNode) ([]*yaml.RNode, error) {
@@ -79,17 +81,17 @@ func (fs FieldSetter) Set() (int, error) {
 	}
 
 	// Load the updated definitions
-	clean, err := openapi.AddSchemaFromFile(fs.OpenAPIPath)
+	sc, err := openapi.SchemaFromFile(fs.OpenAPIPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}
-	defer clean()
+	fs.SettersSchema = sc
 
 	// Update the resources with the new value
 	// Set NoDeleteFiles to true as SetAll will return only the nodes of files which should be updated and
 	// hence, rest of the files should not be deleted
 	inout := &kio.LocalPackageReadWriter{PackagePath: fs.ResourcesPath, NoDeleteFiles: true, PackageFileName: fs.OpenAPIFileName}
-	s := &setters2.Set{Name: fs.Name}
+	s := &setters2.Set{Name: fs.Name, SettersSchema: sc}
 	err = kio.Pipeline{
 		Inputs:  []kio.Reader{inout},
 		Filters: []kio.Filter{setters2.SetAll(s)},
@@ -109,20 +111,12 @@ func (fs FieldSetter) Set() (int, error) {
 // file and sets all values for the resource configs in the provided destination directories.
 // If syncOpenAPI is true, the openAPI files in destination directories are also
 // updated with the setter values in the input openAPI file
-func SetAllSetterDefinitions(syncOpenAPI bool, openAPIPath string, dirs ...string) error {
-	clean, err := openapi.AddSchemaFromFile(openAPIPath)
+func SetAllSetterDefinitions(openAPIPath string, dirs ...string) error {
+	sc, err := openapi.SchemaFromFile(openAPIPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	defer clean()
 	for _, destDir := range dirs {
-		if syncOpenAPI {
-			openAPIFileName := filepath.Base(openAPIPath)
-			err := syncOpenAPIValuesWithSchema(filepath.Join(destDir, openAPIFileName))
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-		}
 		rw := &kio.LocalPackageReadWriter{
 			PackagePath: destDir,
 			// set output won't include resources from files which
@@ -134,7 +128,7 @@ func SetAllSetterDefinitions(syncOpenAPI bool, openAPIPath string, dirs ...strin
 		err := kio.Pipeline{
 			Inputs: []kio.Reader{rw},
 			// Set all of the setters
-			Filters: []kio.Filter{setters2.SetAll(&setters2.Set{SetAll: true})},
+			Filters: []kio.Filter{setters2.SetAll(&setters2.Set{SetAll: true, SettersSchema: sc})},
 			Outputs: []kio.Writer{rw},
 		}.Execute()
 		if err != nil {
@@ -143,31 +137,3 @@ func SetAllSetterDefinitions(syncOpenAPI bool, openAPIPath string, dirs ...strin
 	}
 	return nil
 }
-
-// syncOpenAPIValuesWithSchema syncs the setter values in global openAPI schema
-// with the ones in openAPIPath and writes them back
-func syncOpenAPIValuesWithSchema(openAPIPath string) error {
-	refs, err := openapi.DefinitionRefs(openAPIPath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	for _, ref := range refs {
-		sch := openapi.Schema().Definitions[ref]
-		cliExt, err := setters2.GetExtFromSchema(&sch)
-		if cliExt == nil || cliExt.Setter == nil || err != nil {
-			// if the ref doesn't exist in global schema or if it is not a setter
-			// continue, as there might be setters which are not present global schema
-			continue
-		}
-		soa := setters2.SetOpenAPI{
-			Name:       cliExt.Setter.Name,
-			Value:      cliExt.Setter.Value,
-			ListValues: cliExt.Setter.ListValues,
-			IsSet:      true,
-		}
-		if err := soa.UpdateFile(openAPIPath); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/fieldsetter_test.go b/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/fieldsetter_test.go
index 5933271b4..c17d35173 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/fieldsetter_test.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/fieldsetter_test.go
@@ -20,72 +20,9 @@ func TestSetAllSetterDefinitions(t *testing.T) {
 		destOpenAPI             string
 		expectedDestFile        string
 		expectedDestOpenAPIFile string
-		syncSchema              bool
 	}{
 		{
-			name:       "set definitions with syncSchema",
-			syncSchema: true,
-			srcOpenAPIFile: `openAPI:
-  definitions:
-    io.k8s.cli.setters.namespace:
-      x-k8s-cli:
-        setter:
-          name: namespace
-          value: "project-namespace"
-    io.k8s.cli.setters.replicas:
-      x-k8s-cli:
-        setter:
-          name: replicas
-          value: "4"`,
-
-			destFile: `apiVersion: apps/v1
-kind: Deployment
-metadata:
-  name: nginx-deployment
-  namespace: some-other-namespace # {"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.cli.setters.namespace"}
-spec:
-  replicas: 3 # {"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.cli.setters.replicas-new"}`,
-
-			destOpenAPI: `openAPI:
-  definitions:
-    io.k8s.cli.setters.namespace:
-      x-k8s-cli:
-        setter:
-          name: namespace
-          value: "some-other-namespace"
-    io.k8s.cli.setters.replicas-new:
-      x-k8s-cli:
-        setter:
-          name: replicas-new
-          value: "3"`,
-
-			expectedDestFile: `apiVersion: apps/v1
-kind: Deployment
-metadata:
-  name: nginx-deployment
-  namespace: project-namespace # {"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.cli.setters.namespace"}
-spec:
-  replicas: 3 # {"$ref": "#/definitions/io.k8s.cli.setters.replicas-new"}
-`,
-
-			expectedDestOpenAPIFile: `openAPI:
-  definitions:
-    io.k8s.cli.setters.namespace:
-      x-k8s-cli:
-        setter:
-          name: namespace
-          value: "project-namespace"
-          isSet: true
-    io.k8s.cli.setters.replicas-new:
-      x-k8s-cli:
-        setter:
-          name: replicas-new
-          value: "3"
-`,
-		},
-		{
-			name:       "set values only to resources and not the openAPI",
-			syncSchema: false,
+			name: "set values only to resources and not the openAPI",
 			srcOpenAPIFile: `openAPI:
   definitions:
     io.k8s.cli.setters.namespace:
@@ -172,7 +109,7 @@ spec:
 				t.FailNow()
 			}
 
-			err = SetAllSetterDefinitions(test.syncSchema, filepath.Join(srcDir, "Krmfile"), destDir)
+			err = SetAllSetterDefinitions(filepath.Join(srcDir, "Krmfile"), destDir)
 			if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
 				t.FailNow()
 			}
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/settercreator.go b/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/settercreator.go
index fa8d83013..d07492db0 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/settercreator.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/settercreator.go
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ type SetterCreator struct {
 
 	// Path to resources folder
 	ResourcesPath string
+
+	SettersSchema *spec.Schema
 }
 
 func (c *SetterCreator) Filter(input []*yaml.RNode) ([]*yaml.RNode, error) {
@@ -75,10 +77,11 @@ func (c SetterCreator) Create() error {
 	// Update the resources with the setter reference
 	inout := &kio.LocalPackageReadWriter{PackagePath: c.ResourcesPath}
 	a := &setters2.Add{
-		FieldName:  c.FieldName,
-		FieldValue: c.FieldValue,
-		Ref:        fieldmeta.DefinitionsPrefix + fieldmeta.SetterDefinitionPrefix + c.Name,
-		Type:       c.Type,
+		FieldName:     c.FieldName,
+		FieldValue:    c.FieldValue,
+		Ref:           fieldmeta.DefinitionsPrefix + fieldmeta.SetterDefinitionPrefix + c.Name,
+		Type:          c.Type,
+		SettersSchema: c.SettersSchema,
 	}
 	err = kio.Pipeline{
 		Inputs:  []kio.Reader{inout},
@@ -103,11 +106,11 @@ func (c SetterCreator) Create() error {
 	}
 
 	// Load the updated definitions
-	clean, err := openapi.AddSchemaFromFile(c.OpenAPIPath)
+	sc, err := openapi.SchemaFromFile(c.OpenAPIPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	defer clean()
+	c.SettersSchema = sc
 	// if the setter is of array type write the derived list values back to
 	// openAPI definitions
 	if len(a.ListValues) > 0 {
@@ -183,7 +186,7 @@ func (c SetterCreator) validateSetterInfo() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	subst, _ := openapi.Resolve(&ref)
+	subst, _ := openapi.Resolve(&ref, c.SettersSchema)
 	// if substitution already exists with the input setter name, throw error
 	if subst != nil {
 		return errors.Errorf("substitution with name %q already exists, "+
@@ -196,7 +199,7 @@ func (c SetterCreator) validateSetterInfo() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	setter, _ := openapi.Resolve(&ref)
+	setter, _ := openapi.Resolve(&ref, c.SettersSchema)
 	// if setter already exists with the input setter name, throw error
 	if setter != nil {
 		return errors.Errorf("setter with name %q already exists, "+
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/substitutioncreator.go b/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/substitutioncreator.go
index 66909f215..79613dc2b 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/substitutioncreator.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/settersutil/substitutioncreator.go
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ type SubstitutionCreator struct {
 
 	// Path to resources folder
 	ResourcesPath string
+
+	SettersSchema *spec.Schema
 }
 
 func (c *SubstitutionCreator) Filter(input []*yaml.RNode) ([]*yaml.RNode, error) {
@@ -64,7 +66,7 @@ func (c SubstitutionCreator) Create() error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	values, err := markersAndRefs(c.Name, c.Pattern)
+	values, err := c.markersAndRefs(c.Name, c.Pattern)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -93,11 +95,11 @@ func (c SubstitutionCreator) Create() error {
 	}
 
 	// Load the updated definitions
-	clean, err := openapi.AddSchemaFromFile(c.OpenAPIPath)
+	sc, err := openapi.SchemaFromFile(c.OpenAPIPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	defer clean()
+	c.SettersSchema = sc
 
 	visited := sets.String{}
 	ref, err := spec.NewRef(fieldmeta.DefinitionsPrefix + fieldmeta.SubstitutionDefinitionPrefix + c.Name)
@@ -105,7 +107,7 @@ func (c SubstitutionCreator) Create() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	schema, err := openapi.Resolve(&ref)
+	schema, err := openapi.Resolve(&ref, c.SettersSchema)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -121,14 +123,14 @@ func (c SubstitutionCreator) Create() error {
 	}
 
 	// Load the updated definitions after setters are created
-	clean, err = openapi.AddSchemaFromFile(c.OpenAPIPath)
+	sc, err = openapi.SchemaFromFile(c.OpenAPIPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	defer clean()
+	c.SettersSchema = sc
 
 	// revert openAPI file if there are cycles detected in created input substitution
-	if err := checkForCycles(ext, visited); err != nil {
+	if err := c.checkForCycles(ext, visited); err != nil {
 		if writeErr := ioutil.WriteFile(c.OpenAPIPath, curOpenAPI, stat.Mode().Perm()); writeErr != nil {
 			return writeErr
 		}
@@ -136,9 +138,10 @@ func (c SubstitutionCreator) Create() error {
 	}
 
 	a := &setters2.Add{
-		FieldName:  c.FieldName,
-		FieldValue: c.FieldValue,
-		Ref:        fieldmeta.DefinitionsPrefix + fieldmeta.SubstitutionDefinitionPrefix + c.Name,
+		FieldName:     c.FieldName,
+		FieldValue:    c.FieldValue,
+		Ref:           fieldmeta.DefinitionsPrefix + fieldmeta.SubstitutionDefinitionPrefix + c.Name,
+		SettersSchema: c.SettersSchema,
 	}
 
 	// Update the resources with the substitution reference
@@ -158,7 +161,7 @@ func (c SubstitutionCreator) Create() error {
 
 // createMarkersAndRefs takes the input pattern, creates setter/substitution markers
 // and corresponding openAPI refs
-func markersAndRefs(substName, pattern string) ([]setters2.Value, error) {
+func (c *SubstitutionCreator) markersAndRefs(substName, pattern string) ([]setters2.Value, error) {
 	var values []setters2.Value
 	// extract setter name tokens from pattern enclosed in ${}
 	re := regexp.MustCompile(`\$\{([^}]*)\}`)
@@ -180,7 +183,7 @@ func markersAndRefs(substName, pattern string) ([]setters2.Value, error) {
 		}
 
 		var markerRef string
-		subst, _ := openapi.Resolve(&ref)
+		subst, _ := openapi.Resolve(&ref, c.SettersSchema)
 		// check if the substitution exists with the marker name or fall back to creating setter
 		// ref with the name
 		if subst != nil {
@@ -246,7 +249,7 @@ func (c SubstitutionCreator) CreateSettersForSubstitution(openAPIPath string) er
 	return nil
 }
 
-func checkForCycles(ext *setters2.CliExtension, visited sets.String) error {
+func (c SubstitutionCreator) checkForCycles(ext *setters2.CliExtension, visited sets.String) error {
 	// check if the substitution has already been visited and throw error as cycles
 	// are not allowed in nested substitutions
 	if visited.Has(ext.Substitution.Name) {
@@ -268,7 +271,7 @@ func checkForCycles(ext *setters2.CliExtension, visited sets.String) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return errors.Wrap(err)
 		}
-		def, err := openapi.Resolve(&ref) // resolve the def to its openAPI def
+		def, err := openapi.Resolve(&ref, c.SettersSchema) // resolve the def to its openAPI def
 		if err != nil {
 			return errors.Wrap(err)
 		}
@@ -279,7 +282,7 @@ func checkForCycles(ext *setters2.CliExtension, visited sets.String) error {
 
 		if defExt.Substitution != nil {
 			// parse recursively if it reference is substitution
-			err := checkForCycles(defExt, visited)
+			err := c.checkForCycles(defExt, visited)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -440,7 +443,7 @@ func (c SubstitutionCreator) validateSubstitutionInfo() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	subst, _ := openapi.Resolve(&ref)
+	subst, _ := openapi.Resolve(&ref, c.SettersSchema)
 	// if substitution already exists with the input substitution name, throw error
 	if subst != nil {
 		return errors.Errorf("substitution with name %q already exists", c.Name)
@@ -452,7 +455,7 @@ func (c SubstitutionCreator) validateSubstitutionInfo() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	setter, _ := openapi.Resolve(&ref)
+	setter, _ := openapi.Resolve(&ref, c.SettersSchema)
 	// if setter already exists with input substitution name, throw error
 	if setter != nil {
 		return errors.Errorf(fmt.Sprintf("setter with name %q already exists, "+
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/util.go b/kyaml/setters2/util.go
index 464e5a6e1..6f95ad0eb 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/util.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/util.go
@@ -6,22 +6,22 @@ package setters2
 import (
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/go-openapi/spec"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/errors"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/fieldmeta"
-	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/openapi"
 )
 
 // CheckRequiredSettersSet iterates through all the setter definitions in openAPI
 // schema and returns error if any of the setter has required field true and isSet false
-func CheckRequiredSettersSet() error {
-	for key := range openapi.Schema().Definitions {
+func CheckRequiredSettersSet(settersSchema *spec.Schema) error {
+	for key := range settersSchema.Definitions {
 		if strings.Contains(key, fieldmeta.SetterDefinitionPrefix) {
-			val := openapi.Schema().Definitions[key]
+			val := settersSchema.Definitions[key]
 			defExt, err := GetExtFromSchema(&val) // parse the extension out of the openAPI
 			if err != nil {
 				return errors.Wrap(err)
 			}
-			if defExt.Setter.Required && !defExt.Setter.IsSet {
+			if defExt.Setter != nil && defExt.Setter.Required && !defExt.Setter.IsSet {
 				return errors.Errorf("setter %s is required but not set, "+
 					"please set it to new value and try again", strings.TrimPrefix(key, fieldmeta.SetterDefinitionPrefix))
 			}
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/util_test.go b/kyaml/setters2/util_test.go
index 40ca5258a..ba1554a5f 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/util_test.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/util_test.go
@@ -135,12 +135,6 @@ openAPI:
  `,
 			expectedError: true,
 		},
-
-		{
-			name:             "no openAPI",
-			inputOpenAPIfile: ``,
-			expectedError:    false,
-		},
 	}
 	for i := range tests {
 		test := tests[i]
@@ -154,14 +148,16 @@ openAPI:
 			if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
 				t.FailNow()
 			}
-			clean, err := openapi.AddSchemaFromFile(filepath.Join(dir, "Krmfile"))
-			defer clean()
+			sc, err := openapi.SchemaFromFile(filepath.Join(dir, "Krmfile"))
+			if !assert.NoError(t, err) {
+				t.FailNow()
+			}
 			if err != nil {
 				// do nothing if openAPI file or schema doesn't exist, CheckRequiredSettersSet()
 				// should not throw any error
 				fmt.Println("Unable to load schema from file, continuing...")
 			}
-			err = CheckRequiredSettersSet()
+			err = CheckRequiredSettersSet(sc)
 			if test.expectedError && !assert.Error(t, err) {
 				t.FailNow()
 			}
diff --git a/kyaml/setters2/walk.go b/kyaml/setters2/walk.go
index 69eb1f447..ca9d39ce3 100644
--- a/kyaml/setters2/walk.go
+++ b/kyaml/setters2/walk.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 package setters2
 
 import (
+	"github.com/go-openapi/spec"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/fieldmeta"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/openapi"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/kustomize/kyaml/yaml"
@@ -32,27 +33,27 @@ type visitor interface {
 }
 
 // accept invokes the appropriate function on v for each field in object
-func accept(v visitor, object *yaml.RNode) error {
+func accept(v visitor, object *yaml.RNode, settersSchema *spec.Schema) error {
 	// get the OpenAPI for the type if it exists
-	oa := getSchema(object, nil, "")
-	return acceptImpl(v, object, "", oa)
+	oa := getSchema(object, nil, "", settersSchema)
+	return acceptImpl(v, object, "", oa, settersSchema)
 }
 
 // acceptImpl implements accept using recursion
-func acceptImpl(v visitor, object *yaml.RNode, p string, oa *openapi.ResourceSchema) error {
+func acceptImpl(v visitor, object *yaml.RNode, p string, oa *openapi.ResourceSchema, settersSchema *spec.Schema) error {
 	switch object.YNode().Kind {
 	case yaml.DocumentNode:
 		// Traverse the child of the document
-		return accept(v, yaml.NewRNode(object.YNode()))
+		return accept(v, yaml.NewRNode(object.YNode()), settersSchema)
 	case yaml.MappingNode:
 		if err := v.visitMapping(object, p, oa); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 		return object.VisitFields(func(node *yaml.MapNode) error {
 			// get the schema for the field and propagate it
-			fieldSchema := getSchema(node.Key, oa, node.Key.YNode().Value)
+			fieldSchema := getSchema(node.Key, oa, node.Key.YNode().Value, settersSchema)
 			// Traverse each field value
-			return acceptImpl(v, node.Value, p+"."+node.Key.YNode().Value, fieldSchema)
+			return acceptImpl(v, node.Value, p+"."+node.Key.YNode().Value, fieldSchema, settersSchema)
 		})
 	case yaml.SequenceNode:
 		// get the schema for the sequence node, use the schema provided if not present
@@ -61,14 +62,14 @@ func acceptImpl(v visitor, object *yaml.RNode, p string, oa *openapi.ResourceSch
 			return err
 		}
 		// get the schema for the elements
-		schema := getSchema(object, oa, "")
+		schema := getSchema(object, oa, "", settersSchema)
 		return object.VisitElements(func(node *yaml.RNode) error {
 			// Traverse each list element
-			return acceptImpl(v, node, p, schema)
+			return acceptImpl(v, node, p, schema, settersSchema)
 		})
 	case yaml.ScalarNode:
 		// Visit the scalar field
-		fieldSchema := getSchema(object, oa, "")
+		fieldSchema := getSchema(object, oa, "", settersSchema)
 		return v.visitScalar(object, p, oa, fieldSchema)
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -80,14 +81,14 @@ func acceptImpl(v visitor, object *yaml.RNode, p string, oa *openapi.ResourceSch
 // r is the Node to get the Schema for
 // s is the provided schema for the field if known
 // field is the name of the field
-func getSchema(r *yaml.RNode, s *openapi.ResourceSchema, field string) *openapi.ResourceSchema {
+func getSchema(r *yaml.RNode, s *openapi.ResourceSchema, field string, settersSchema *spec.Schema) *openapi.ResourceSchema {
 	// get the override schema if it exists on the field
-	fm := fieldmeta.FieldMeta{}
+	fm := fieldmeta.FieldMeta{SettersSchema: settersSchema}
 	if err := fm.Read(r); err == nil && !fm.IsEmpty() {
 		// per-field schema, this is fine
 		if fm.Schema.Ref.String() != "" {
 			// resolve the reference
-			s, err := openapi.Resolve(&fm.Schema.Ref)
+			s, err := openapi.Resolve(&fm.Schema.Ref, settersSchema)
 			if err == nil && s != nil {
 				fm.Schema = *s
 			}
diff --git a/kyaml/yaml/walk/map.go b/kyaml/yaml/walk/map.go
index 1db97d64a..998af6d32 100644
--- a/kyaml/yaml/walk/map.go
+++ b/kyaml/yaml/walk/map.go
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func (l Walker) valueIfPresent(node *yaml.MapNode) (*yaml.RNode, *openapi.Resour
 	if err = fm.Read(node.Value); err == nil {
 		s = &openapi.ResourceSchema{Schema: &fm.Schema}
 		if fm.Schema.Ref.String() != "" {
-			r, err := openapi.Resolve(&fm.Schema.Ref)
+			r, err := openapi.Resolve(&fm.Schema.Ref, openapi.Schema())
 			if err == nil && r != nil {
 				s.Schema = r
 			}
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func (l Walker) valueIfPresent(node *yaml.MapNode) (*yaml.RNode, *openapi.Resour
 			s = &openapi.ResourceSchema{Schema: &fm.Schema}
 		}
 		if fm.Schema.Ref.String() != "" {
-			r, err := openapi.Resolve(&fm.Schema.Ref)
+			r, err := openapi.Resolve(&fm.Schema.Ref, openapi.Schema())
 			if err == nil && r != nil {
 				s.Schema = r
 			}
diff --git a/kyaml/yaml/walk/walk.go b/kyaml/yaml/walk/walk.go
index 65ec6c3a8..68de1324e 100644
--- a/kyaml/yaml/walk/walk.go
+++ b/kyaml/yaml/walk/walk.go
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func (l Walker) GetSchema() *openapi.ResourceSchema {
 			// per-field schema, this is fine
 			if fm.Schema.Ref.String() != "" {
 				// resolve the reference
-				s, err := openapi.Resolve(&fm.Schema.Ref)
+				s, err := openapi.Resolve(&fm.Schema.Ref, openapi.Schema())
 				if err == nil && s != nil {
 					fm.Schema = *s
 				}