diff --git a/src/taskgraph/optimize/base.py b/src/taskgraph/optimize/base.py
index ba07ca276..0d333c624 100644
--- a/src/taskgraph/optimize/base.py
+++ b/src/taskgraph/optimize/base.py
@@ -22,13 +22,14 @@
 from taskgraph.taskgraph import TaskGraph
 from taskgraph.util.parameterization import resolve_task_references, resolve_timestamps
 from taskgraph.util.python_path import import_sibling_modules
+from taskgraph.util.schema import validate_schema
 from taskgraph.util.taskcluster import find_task_id_batched, status_task_batched
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("optimization")
 registry = {}
 
 
-def register_strategy(name, args=(), kwargs=None):
+def register_strategy(name, args=(), kwargs=None, schema=None):
     kwargs = kwargs or {}
 
     def wrap(cls):
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ def wrap(cls):
             registry[name] = cls(*args, **kwargs)
             if not hasattr(registry[name], "description"):
                 registry[name].description = name
+            registry[name].schema = schema
         return cls
 
     return wrap
@@ -123,6 +125,13 @@ def optimizations(label):
         if task.optimization:
             opt_by, arg = list(task.optimization.items())[0]
             strategy = strategies[opt_by]
+            schema = getattr(strategy, "schema", None)
+            if schema:
+                validate_schema(
+                    schema,
+                    arg,
+                    f"In task `{label}` optimization `{opt_by}`:",
+                )
             if hasattr(strategy, "description"):
                 opt_by += f" ({strategy.description})"
             return (opt_by, strategy, arg)
diff --git a/src/taskgraph/optimize/strategies.py b/src/taskgraph/optimize/strategies.py
index 8fed9e54a..7b461fe2a 100644
--- a/src/taskgraph/optimize/strategies.py
+++ b/src/taskgraph/optimize/strategies.py
@@ -5,12 +5,13 @@
 
 from taskgraph.optimize.base import OptimizationStrategy, register_strategy
 from taskgraph.util.path import match as match_path
+from taskgraph.util.schema import Schema
 from taskgraph.util.taskcluster import find_task_id, status_task
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("optimization")
 
 
-@register_strategy("index-search")
+@register_strategy("index-search", schema=Schema([str]))
 class IndexSearch(OptimizationStrategy):
     # A task with no dependencies remaining after optimization will be replaced
     # if artifacts exist for the corresponding index_paths.
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ def should_replace_task(self, task, params, deadline, arg):
         return False
 
 
-@register_strategy("skip-unless-changed")
+@register_strategy("skip-unless-changed", schema=Schema([str]))
 class SkipUnlessChanged(OptimizationStrategy):
     def check(self, files_changed, patterns):
         for pattern in patterns:
diff --git a/src/taskgraph/transforms/task.py b/src/taskgraph/transforms/task.py
index 7c834dcc7..e6dc127cd 100644
--- a/src/taskgraph/transforms/task.py
+++ b/src/taskgraph/transforms/task.py
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 from taskgraph.util.hash import hash_path
 from taskgraph.util.keyed_by import evaluate_keyed_by
 from taskgraph.util.schema import (
-    OptimizationSchema,
     Schema,
     optionally_keyed_by,
     resolve_keyed_by,
@@ -340,10 +339,10 @@ def run_task_suffix():
             description=dedent(
                 """
                 Optimization to perform on this task during the optimization
-                phase. Defined in taskcluster/taskgraph/optimize.py.
+                phase. The schema for this value is specific to the given optimization.
                 """.lstrip()
             ),
-        ): OptimizationSchema,
+        ): Any(None, dict),
         Required(
             "worker-type",
             description=dedent(
diff --git a/src/taskgraph/util/schema.py b/src/taskgraph/util/schema.py
index 3c5f4c955..f6d2ee9d3 100644
--- a/src/taskgraph/util/schema.py
+++ b/src/taskgraph/util/schema.py
@@ -230,16 +230,6 @@ def __getitem__(self, item):
         return self.schema[item]  # type: ignore
 
 
-OptimizationSchema = voluptuous.Any(
-    # always run this task (default)
-    None,
-    # search the index for the given index namespaces, and replace this task if found
-    # the search occurs in order, with the first match winning
-    {"index-search": [str]},
-    # skip this task if none of the given file patterns match
-    {"skip-unless-changed": [str]},
-)
-
 # shortcut for a string where task references are allowed
 taskref_or_string = voluptuous.Any(
     str,
diff --git a/test/test_optimize.py b/test/test_optimize.py
index bfc2e9709..07c2a6a9b 100644
--- a/test/test_optimize.py
+++ b/test/test_optimize.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 from pytest_taskgraph import make_graph, make_task
+from voluptuous import Schema
 
 from taskgraph.graph import Graph
 from taskgraph.optimize import base as optimize_mod
@@ -487,3 +488,15 @@ def test_register_strategy(mocker):
     func = register_strategy("foo", args=("one", "two"), kwargs={"n": 1})
     func(m)
     m.assert_called_with("one", "two", n=1)
+
+
+def test_register_strategy_with_schema(mocker, monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(optimize_mod, "registry", {})
+    schema = Schema([str])
+
+    @register_strategy("bar", schema=schema)
+    class TestStrategy(OptimizationStrategy):
+        pass
+
+    assert "bar" in optimize_mod.registry
+    assert optimize_mod.registry["bar"].schema is schema