diff --git a/jsonschema/tests/test_validators.py b/jsonschema/tests/test_validators.py
index 0adbf3060..d2077e091 100644
--- a/jsonschema/tests/test_validators.py
+++ b/jsonschema/tests/test_validators.py
@@ -1124,6 +1124,26 @@ def test_enum_allows_non_unique_items(self):
         self.Validator.check_schema({"enum": [12, 12]})
 
 
+class InvalidRegexMixin(object):
+    def test_invalid_patternProperty(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(exceptions.SchemaError):
+            self.Validator.check_schema(
+                {"patternProperties":{"\q": {"type": "number"}}},
+            )
+
+    def test_invalid_pattern(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(exceptions.SchemaError):
+            self.Validator.check_schema({"pattern": "\q"})
+
+
+class TestDraft6InvalidRegex(InvalidRegexMixin, TestCase):
+    Validator = validators.Draft6Validator
+
+
+class TestDraft7InvalidRegex(InvalidRegexMixin, TestCase):
+    Validator = validators.Draft7Validator
+
+
 class ValidatorTestMixin(MetaSchemaTestsMixin, object):
     def test_valid_instances_are_valid(self):
         schema, instance = self.valid
diff --git a/jsonschema/validators.py b/jsonschema/validators.py
index 7b7d76dfb..54b510bf3 100644
--- a/jsonschema/validators.py
+++ b/jsonschema/validators.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 from six import add_metaclass
 
 from jsonschema import (
+    _format,
     _legacy_validators,
     _types,
     _utils,
@@ -158,6 +159,7 @@ def create(
     default_types=None,
     type_checker=None,
     id_of=_id_of,
+    format_checker=None,
 ):
     """
     Create a new validator class.
@@ -208,7 +210,14 @@ def create(
 
         id_of (callable):
 
-            A function that given a schema, returns its ID.
+            a function that given a schema, returns its ID.
+
+        format_checker (jsonschema.FormatChecker):
+
+            a format checker, used when applying the :validator:`format`
+            validator.
+
+            If unprovided, none will be associated.
 
     Returns:
 
@@ -284,8 +293,9 @@ def __init__(
             self.schema = schema
 
         @classmethod
-        def check_schema(cls, schema):
-            for error in cls(cls.META_SCHEMA).iter_errors(schema):
+        def check_schema(cls, schema, format_checker=format_checker):
+            validator = cls(cls.META_SCHEMA, format_checker=format_checker)
+            for error in validator.iter_errors(schema):
                 raise exceptions.SchemaError.create_from(error)
 
         def iter_errors(self, instance, _schema=None):
@@ -465,6 +475,7 @@ def extend(validator, validators=(), version=None, type_checker=None):
     type_checker=_types.draft3_type_checker,
     version="draft3",
     id_of=lambda schema: schema.get(u"id", ""),
+    format_checker=_format.draft3_format_checker,
 )
 
 Draft4Validator = create(
@@ -500,6 +511,7 @@ def extend(validator, validators=(), version=None, type_checker=None):
     type_checker=_types.draft4_type_checker,
     version="draft4",
     id_of=lambda schema: schema.get(u"id", ""),
+    format_checker=_format.draft4_format_checker,
 )
 
 Draft6Validator = create(
@@ -539,6 +551,7 @@ def extend(validator, validators=(), version=None, type_checker=None):
     },
     type_checker=_types.draft6_type_checker,
     version="draft6",
+    format_checker=_format.draft6_format_checker,
 )
 
 Draft7Validator = create(
@@ -579,6 +592,7 @@ def extend(validator, validators=(), version=None, type_checker=None):
     },
     type_checker=_types.draft7_type_checker,
     version="draft7",
+    format_checker=_format.draft7_format_checker,
 )
 
 _LATEST_VERSION = Draft7Validator