diff --git a/lib/validation.js b/lib/validation.js
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/validation.js
+++ b/lib/validation.js
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 const Joi = require( 'joi' );
 
+// pre-load
+require( 'joi/lib/any' );
+
 const utils = require( './utils' );
 
 const ignoredProperties = require( './ignored-properties' );
@@ -115,6 +118,23 @@ function configure( userSchema ) {
     if( userSchema ) {
 
         schema = userSchema;
+
+        // warm up during load phase
+        try {
+
+            let testEvent = {};
+
+            Object.keys( schema ).forEach( function( key ) {
+
+                testEvent[ key ] = 'test-data';
+            });
+
+            verify( testEvent );
+        }
+        catch( err ) {
+
+            // ignore
+        }
     }
 }
Added preload and warm-up code for validation testing - reduces time for cold runs