diff --git a/validate/validate_curies_to_categories_yaml.py b/validate/validate_curies_to_categories_yaml.py
index 8d8d6131..63b96f88 100755
--- a/validate/validate_curies_to_categories_yaml.py
+++ b/validate/validate_curies_to_categories_yaml.py
@@ -51,6 +51,4 @@ def make_arg_parser():
     list(curies_to_categories_data['term-mappings'].values())
 
 for category in categories_to_check:
-    category_camelcase = kg2_util.convert_space_case_to_camel_case(category)
-    category_curie = kg2_util.CURIE_PREFIX_BIOLINK + ':' + category_camelcase
-    assert category_curie in biolink_categories, category_curie
+    assert category in biolink_categories, category_curie