diff --git a/openfpga/src/fabric/build_top_module.cpp b/openfpga/src/fabric/build_top_module.cpp
index 80d6e768c..5d2d87aaa 100644
--- a/openfpga/src/fabric/build_top_module.cpp
+++ b/openfpga/src/fabric/build_top_module.cpp
@@ -381,6 +381,7 @@ int build_top_module(ModuleManager& module_manager,
     }
 
     status = load_top_module_memory_modules_from_fabric_key(module_manager, top_module,
+                                                            circuit_lib, config_protocol,
                                                             fabric_key); 
     if (CMD_EXEC_FATAL_ERROR == status) {
       return status;
diff --git a/openfpga/src/fabric/build_top_module_memory.cpp b/openfpga/src/fabric/build_top_module_memory.cpp
index 91275b3bd..422a73ff2 100644
--- a/openfpga/src/fabric/build_top_module_memory.cpp
+++ b/openfpga/src/fabric/build_top_module_memory.cpp
@@ -523,6 +523,8 @@ void shuffle_top_module_configurable_children(ModuleManager& module_manager,
  ********************************************************************/
 int load_top_module_memory_modules_from_fabric_key(ModuleManager& module_manager,
                                                    const ModuleId& top_module,
+                                                   const CircuitLibrary& circuit_lib,
+                                                   const ConfigProtocol& config_protocol,
                                                    const FabricKey& fabric_key) {
   /* Ensure a clean start */
   module_manager.clear_configurable_children(top_module);
@@ -574,6 +576,20 @@ int load_top_module_memory_modules_from_fabric_key(ModuleManager& module_manager
         return CMD_EXEC_FATAL_ERROR;                    
       }
 
+      /* If the the child has not configuration bits, error out */
+      if (0 == find_module_num_config_bits(module_manager, instance_info.first,
+                                           circuit_lib, config_protocol.memory_model(), 
+                                           config_protocol.type())) {
+        if (!fabric_key.key_alias(key).empty()) {
+          VTR_LOG_ERROR("Invalid key alias '%s' which has zero configuration bits!\n",
+                        fabric_key.key_alias(key).c_str()); 
+        } else {
+          VTR_LOG_ERROR("Invalid key name '%s' which has zero configuration bits!\n",
+                        fabric_key.key_name(key).c_str()); 
+        }
+        return CMD_EXEC_FATAL_ERROR;                    
+      }
+
       /* Now we can add the child to configurable children of the top module */
       module_manager.add_configurable_child(top_module,
                                             instance_info.first,
diff --git a/openfpga/src/fabric/build_top_module_memory.h b/openfpga/src/fabric/build_top_module_memory.h
index 7e93ca85a..e1d495fd4 100644
--- a/openfpga/src/fabric/build_top_module_memory.h
+++ b/openfpga/src/fabric/build_top_module_memory.h
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ void shuffle_top_module_configurable_children(ModuleManager& module_manager,
 
 int load_top_module_memory_modules_from_fabric_key(ModuleManager& module_manager,
                                                    const ModuleId& top_module,
+                                                   const CircuitLibrary& circuit_lib,
+                                                   const ConfigProtocol& config_protocol,
                                                    const FabricKey& fabric_key); 
 
 vtr::vector<ConfigRegionId, size_t> find_top_module_regional_num_config_bit(const ModuleManager& module_manager,