diff --git a/schemas/program.schema.yaml b/schemas/program.schema.yaml
index 4eed6dcc7..1426dd577 100644
--- a/schemas/program.schema.yaml
+++ b/schemas/program.schema.yaml
@@ -38,7 +38,11 @@ properties:
     description: |
       The context known to exist prior to the execution of the first
       instruction in the bytecode.
+
+      This field is **optional**. Omitting it is equivalent to specifying the
+      empty context value (`{}`).
     $ref: "schema:ethdebug/format/program/context"
+    default: {}
 
   instructions:
     type: array
diff --git a/schemas/program/context.schema.yaml b/schemas/program/context.schema.yaml
index 72dca425b..b0dd142f5 100644
--- a/schemas/program/context.schema.yaml
+++ b/schemas/program/context.schema.yaml
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ anyOf:
   - $ref: "schema:ethdebug/format/program/context/variables"
   - $ref: "schema:ethdebug/format/program/context/remark"
 
-minProperties: 1
 unevaluatedProperties: false
 
 examples:
diff --git a/schemas/program/instruction.schema.yaml b/schemas/program/instruction.schema.yaml
index 8ca56f27e..d59c9fafe 100644
--- a/schemas/program/instruction.schema.yaml
+++ b/schemas/program/instruction.schema.yaml
@@ -43,11 +43,14 @@ properties:
   context:
     description: |
       The context known to exist following the execution of this instruction.
+
+      This field is **optional**. Omitting it is equivalent to specifying the
+      empty context value (`{}`).
     $ref: "schema:ethdebug/format/program/context"
+    default: {}
 
 required:
   - offset
-  - context
 
 examples:
   - offset: 0