diff --git a/examples/switch-then-string.yaml b/examples/switch-then-string.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7db53745
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/switch-then-string.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+document:
+  dsl: '1.0.0-alpha1'
+  namespace: test
+  name: sample-workflow
+  version: '0.1.0'
+do:
+  processOrder:
+    switch:
+      case1:
+        when: .orderType == "electronic"
+        then: processElectronicOrder
+      case2:
+        when: .orderType == "physical"
+        then: processPhysicalOrder
+      default:
+        then: handleUnknownOrderType
+  processElectronicOrder:
+    execute:
+      sequentially:
+        validatePayment:
+          set:
+            validate: true
+        fulfillOrder:
+          set:
+            status: fulfilled
+    then: exit
+  processPhysicalOrder:
+    execute:
+      sequentially:
+        checkInventory:
+          set:
+            inventory: clear
+        packItems:
+          set:
+            items: 1
+        scheduleShipping:
+          set:
+            address: Elmer St
+    then: exit
+  handleUnknownOrderType:
+    execute:
+      sequentially:
+        logWarning:
+          set:
+            log: warn
+        notifyAdmin:
+          set:
+            message: something's wrong
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/schema/workflow.yaml b/schema/workflow.yaml
index 018fdb2e..bd6b1b9e 100644
--- a/schema/workflow.yaml
+++ b/schema/workflow.yaml
@@ -325,9 +325,12 @@ $defs:
     required: [ emit ]
     description: Allows workflows to publish events to event brokers or messaging systems, facilitating communication and coordination between different components and services.
   flowDirective:
-    type: string
-    enum: [ continue, exit, end ]
-    default: continue
+    additionalProperties: false
+    anyOf:
+      - type: string
+        enum: [ continue, exit, end ]
+        default: continue
+      - type: string
   forTask:
     properties:
       for: