diff --git a/pywis_topics/topics.py b/pywis_topics/topics.py
index 5ee3ed0..18b589c 100644
--- a/pywis_topics/topics.py
+++ b/pywis_topics/topics.py
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ def _validate_esd_subtopic(self, esd_subtopic: str,
 
         if strict:
             LOGGER.debug('Validating subtopic with strict mode')
-            is_experimental = esd_subtopic.split('/')[1] == 'experimental'
+            is_experimental = '/experimental' in esd_subtopic
             return esd_subtopic in self.topics[-1] or is_experimental
 
         tokens = esd_subtopic.split('/')
diff --git a/tests/run_tests.py b/tests/run_tests.py
index 58df03b..2610e5c 100644
--- a/tests/run_tests.py
+++ b/tests/run_tests.py
@@ -137,6 +137,12 @@ def test_validate(self):
         value = 'cache/a/wis2/ca-eccc-msc/data/core/weather/experimental/surface-based-observations'  # noqa
         self.assertTrue(self.th.validate(value))
 
+        value = 'origin/a/wis2/ca-eccc-msc/data/core/ocean'  # noqa
+        self.assertTrue(self.th.validate(value))
+
+        value = 'cache/a/wis2/ca-eccc-msc/data/core/ocean'  # noqa
+        self.assertTrue(self.th.validate(value))
+
         value = 'cache/a/wis2/ca-eccc-msc/data/core/weather/surface-based-observations/#'  # noqa
         self.assertTrue(self.th.validate(value, strict=False))
         self.assertFalse(self.th.validate(value))