diff --git a/curriculum/schema/challengeSchema.js b/curriculum/schema/challengeSchema.js
index adc6a99f45..829dee334f 100644
--- a/curriculum/schema/challengeSchema.js
+++ b/curriculum/schema/challengeSchema.js
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ let schema = Joi.object().keys({
       title: Joi.string().required()
     })
   ),
-  template: Joi.string(),
+  template: Joi.string().allow(''),
   time: Joi.string().allow(''),
   title: Joi.string().required()
 });
diff --git a/curriculum/test/test-challenges.js b/curriculum/test/test-challenges.js
index 436d84c413..96de7ba0bc 100644
--- a/curriculum/test/test-challenges.js
+++ b/curriculum/test/test-challenges.js
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ const jQueryScript = fs.readFileSync(
         }
 
         it('Test suite must fail on the initial contents', async function() {
+          this.timeout(20000);
           // suppress errors in the console.
           const oldConsoleError = console.error;
           console.error = () => {};