diff --git a/src/hyfi/composer/base.py b/src/hyfi/composer/base.py
index 0c8c7d87..fdaec101 100644
--- a/src/hyfi/composer/base.py
+++ b/src/hyfi/composer/base.py
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@ def validate_model_config_before(cls, data):
         if not _config_group_:
             logger.debug("There is no config group specified.")
             return data
+        config_group = f"{_config_group_}={_config_name_}"
+        if not Composer.is_composable(config_group):
+            logger.debug("Config group `%s` is not composable.", config_group)
+            return data
         # Initialize the config with the given config_name.
         logger.info(
             "Composing `%s` class with `%s` config in `%s` group.",
@@ -73,10 +77,7 @@ def validate_model_config_before(cls, data):
             _config_name_,
             _config_group_,
         )
-        cfg = Composer(
-            config_group=f"{_config_group_}={_config_name_}",
-            config_data=data,
-        ).config_as_dict
+        cfg = Composer(config_group=config_group, config_data=data).config_as_dict
         data = Composer.update(cfg, data)
         # Exclude any attributes specified in the class's `exclude` list.
         exclude = getattr(cls._exclude_, "default", set())  # type: ignore