diff --git a/CUSTOM.md b/CUSTOM.md
index 6a5cbe8..4d3065e 100644
--- a/CUSTOM.md
+++ b/CUSTOM.md
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ In some cases it is the best approach to define keywords, but it has the perform
 
 All custom keywords types can have an optional `metaSchema` property in their definitions. It is a schema against which the value of keyword will be validated during schema compilation.
 
+Custom keyword can also have an optional `dependencies` property in their definitions - it is a list of required keywords in a containing (parent) schema.
+
 Example. `range` and `exclusiveRange` keywords using compiled schema:
 
 ```javascript
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ee12e36..547c374 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1005,6 +1005,7 @@ Keyword definition is an object with the following properties:
 - _inline_: compiling function that returns code (as string)
 - _schema_: an optional `false` value used with "validate" keyword to not pass schema
 - _metaSchema_: an optional meta-schema for keyword schema
+- _dependencies_: an optional list of properties that must be present in the parent schema - it will be checked during schema compilation
 - _modifying_: `true` MUST be passed if keyword modifies data
 - _valid_: pass `true`/`false` to pre-define validation result, the result returned from validation function will be ignored. This option cannot be used with macro keywords.
 - _$data_: an optional `true` value to support [$data reference](#data-reference) as the value of custom keyword. The reference will be resolved at validation time. If the keyword has meta-schema it would be extended to allow $data and it will be used to validate the resolved value. Supporting $data reference requires that keyword has validating function (as the only option or in addition to compile, macro or inline function).
diff --git a/lib/compile/index.js b/lib/compile/index.js
index 8e369db..bac5627 100644
--- a/lib/compile/index.js
+++ b/lib/compile/index.js
@@ -255,13 +255,22 @@ function compile(schema, root, localRefs, baseId) {
   }
 
   function useCustomRule(rule, schema, parentSchema, it) {
-    var validateSchema = rule.definition.validateSchema;
-    if (validateSchema && self._opts.validateSchema !== false) {
-      var valid = validateSchema(schema);
-      if (!valid) {
-        var message = 'keyword schema is invalid: ' + self.errorsText(validateSchema.errors);
-        if (self._opts.validateSchema == 'log') self.logger.error(message);
-        else throw new Error(message);
+    if (self._opts.validateSchema !== false) {
+      var deps = rule.definition.dependencies;
+      if (deps && !deps.every(function(keyword) {
+                    return Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(parentSchema, keyword);
+                  })) {
+        throw new Error('parent schema must have all required keywords: ' + deps.join(','));
+      }
+
+      var validateSchema = rule.definition.validateSchema;
+      if (validateSchema) {
+        var valid = validateSchema(schema);
+        if (!valid) {
+          var message = 'keyword schema is invalid: ' + self.errorsText(validateSchema.errors);
+          if (self._opts.validateSchema == 'log') self.logger.error(message);
+          else throw new Error(message);
+        }
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/lib/keyword.js b/lib/keyword.js
index 6ed84c1..950dceb 100644
--- a/lib/keyword.js
+++ b/lib/keyword.js
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ function addKeyword(keyword, definition) {
   if (RULES.keywords[keyword])
     throw new Error('Keyword ' + keyword + ' is already defined');
 
-  if (!IDENTIFIER.test(keyword))
+  if (!isIdentifier(keyword))
     throw new Error('Keyword ' + keyword + ' is not a valid identifier');
 
   if (definition) {
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ function addKeyword(keyword, definition) {
     if ($data && !definition.validate)
       throw new Error('$data support: "validate" function is not defined');
 
+    var deps = definition.dependencies;
+    if (deps && !(Array.isArray(deps) && deps.every(isIdentifier)))
+      throw new Error('"dependencies" option should be a list of valid identifiers');
+
     var metaSchema = definition.metaSchema;
     if (metaSchema) {
       if ($data) {
@@ -93,6 +97,10 @@ function addKeyword(keyword, definition) {
     if (!RULES.types[dataType]) throw new Error('Unknown type ' + dataType);
   }
 
+  function isIdentifier(name) {
+    return typeof name == 'string' && IDENTIFIER.test(name);
+  }
+
   return this;
 }
 
diff --git a/spec/custom.spec.js b/spec/custom.spec.js
index 21635bc..d2891da 100644
--- a/spec/custom.spec.js
+++ b/spec/custom.spec.js
@@ -1182,4 +1182,50 @@ describe('Custom keywords', function () {
       });
     });
   });
+
+
+  describe('"dependencies" in keyword definition', function() {
+    it("should require properties in the parent schema", function() {
+      ajv.addKeyword('allRequired', {
+        macro: function(schema, parentSchema) {
+          return schema ? {required: Object.keys(parentSchema.properties)} : true;
+        },
+        metaSchema: {type: 'boolean'},
+        dependencies: ['properties']
+      });
+
+      var invalidSchema = {
+        allRequired: true
+      };
+
+      should.throw(function () {
+        ajv.compile(invalidSchema);
+      });
+
+      var schema = {
+        properties: {
+          foo: true
+        },
+        allRequired: true
+      };
+
+      var v = ajv.compile(schema);
+      v({foo: 1}) .should.equal(true);
+      v({}) .should.equal(false);
+    });
+
+    it("'dependencies'should be array of valid strings", function() {
+      ajv.addKeyword('newKeyword1', {
+        metaSchema: {type: 'boolean'},
+        dependencies: ['dep1', 'dep-2']
+      });
+
+      should.throw(function () {
+        ajv.addKeyword('newKeyword2', {
+          metaSchema: {type: 'boolean'},
+          dependencies: ['dep.1']
+        });
+      });
+    });
+  });
 });