diff --git a/karapace/schema_registry.py b/karapace/schema_registry.py
index aa6f1dabc..eb8ae124b 100644
--- a/karapace/schema_registry.py
+++ b/karapace/schema_registry.py
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ def validate_version(version: Version) -> Version:
         version_number = int(version)
         if version_number > 0:
             return version
+        if version_number == -1:
+            return "latest"
         raise InvalidVersion(f"Invalid version {version_number}")
     except ValueError as ex:
         if version == "latest":
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_schema.py b/tests/integration/test_schema.py
index fa8d0ddae..e98e0d2f0 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_schema.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_schema.py
@@ -1254,7 +1254,7 @@ async def test_schema_delete_latest_version(registry_async_client: Client, trail
     await assert_schema_versions(registry_async_client, trail, schema_id_2, [])
 
     # Deleting the latest version, no schemas left
-    res = await registry_async_client.delete(f"subjects/{subject}/versions/latest")
+    res = await registry_async_client.delete(f"subjects/{subject}/versions/-1")
     assert res.status_code == 200
     assert res.json() == version_1