diff --git a/linkml_runtime/utils/uri_validator.py b/linkml_runtime/utils/uri_validator.py
index 13154068..70203d27 100644
--- a/linkml_runtime/utils/uri_validator.py
+++ b/linkml_runtime/utils/uri_validator.py
@@ -356,14 +356,7 @@ def validate_uri_reference(input):
     return uri_validator.match(input) or uri_relative_ref_validator.match(input)
 
 
-def validate_absolute_uri(input):
-    return abs_uri_validator.match(input)
-
-
 def validate_curie(input):
     #    print(CURIE)
     return curie_validator.match(input)
 
-
-def validate_safe_curie(input):
-    return safe_curie_validator.match(input)
diff --git a/tests/test_utils/test_metamodelcore.py b/tests/test_utils/test_metamodelcore.py
index 3d0fe8b2..2d74e6b1 100644
--- a/tests/test_utils/test_metamodelcore.py
+++ b/tests/test_utils/test_metamodelcore.py
@@ -47,11 +47,14 @@ def test_uriorcuries(self):
             URIorCURIE("1:def")
         with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
             URIorCURIE(" ")
-        #with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
-        #    URIorCURIE("_")
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            URIorCURIE("[")
         lax()
         URIorCURIE("1abc:def")
         URIorCURIE("1:def")
+        self.assertFalse(URIorCURIE.is_valid(123))
+        URIorCURIE.is_curie("abc:123")
+        self.assertFalse(URIorCURIE.is_curie("http://example.org/path"))
 
     def test_curie(self):
         """ Test the CURIE type """