diff --git a/src/pynwb/__init__.py b/src/pynwb/__init__.py
index 6ccce7ee8..37779a2bc 100644
--- a/src/pynwb/__init__.py
+++ b/src/pynwb/__init__.py
@@ -355,8 +355,12 @@ def get_sum(self, a, b):
 
 
 @docval({'name': 'path', 'type': str, 'doc': 'the neurodata_type to get the NWBContainer class for'},
+        {"name": "method", "type": str, "doc": "the method to use when opening the file", 'default': None},
         is_method=False)
-def _get_backend(path: str):
+def _get_backend(path: str, method: str = None):
+    if method == "ros3":
+        return NWBHDF5IO  # TODO - add additional conditions for other streaming methods
+
     try:
         from hdmf_zarr import NWBZarrIO
         backend_io_classes = [NWBHDF5IO, NWBZarrIO]
diff --git a/src/pynwb/validation.py b/src/pynwb/validation.py
index 583f23682..01b62627d 100644
--- a/src/pynwb/validation.py
+++ b/src/pynwb/validation.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def get_cached_namespaces_to_validate(path: Optional[str] = None,
                                                     file=io._file)
     else:
         from pynwb import _get_backend
-        backend_io = _get_backend(path)
+        backend_io = _get_backend(path, method=driver)
         namespace_dependencies = backend_io.load_namespaces(namespace_catalog=catalog, 
                                                             path=path, 
                                                             driver=driver, 
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ def validate(**kwargs):
     # get io object if not provided
     if path is not None:
         from pynwb import _get_backend
-        backend_io = _get_backend(path)
+        backend_io = _get_backend(path, method=driver)
         io = backend_io(**io_kwargs)
 
     # check namespaces are accurate