diff --git a/R/dplyr-fable.R b/R/dplyr-fable.R
index 1c8ec479..46905b81 100644
--- a/R/dplyr-fable.R
+++ b/R/dplyr-fable.R
@@ -19,7 +19,12 @@ dplyr_col_modify.grouped_fbl <- dplyr_col_modify.fbl_ts
 #' @export
 dplyr_reconstruct.fbl_ts <- function(data, template) {
   res <- NextMethod()
-  build_fable(res, response = response_vars(template), distribution = distribution_var(template))
+  dist <- distribution_var(template)
+  if(dist %in% names(res)) {
+    build_fable(res, response = response_vars(template), distribution = dist)
+  } else {
+    res
+  }
 }
 
 #' @export
diff --git a/R/dplyr-mable.R b/R/dplyr-mable.R
index 880a3612..2e005d55 100644
--- a/R/dplyr-mable.R
+++ b/R/dplyr-mable.R
@@ -22,5 +22,10 @@ dplyr_col_modify.mdl_df <- function(data, cols) {
 dplyr_reconstruct.mdl_df <- function(data, template) {
   res <- NextMethod()
   mbl_vars <- names(which(vapply(data, inherits, logical(1L), "lst_mdl")))
-  build_mable(data, key = !!key_vars(template), model = !!mbl_vars)
+  kv <- key_vars(template)
+  if(all(kv %in% names(res))) {
+    build_mable(data, key = !!kv, model = !!mbl_vars)
+  } else {
+    as_tibble(res)
+  }
 }