diff --git a/compiler/base/hierarchy_layout.py b/compiler/base/hierarchy_layout.py
index 532b0f7d..4fd42635 100644
--- a/compiler/base/hierarchy_layout.py
+++ b/compiler/base/hierarchy_layout.py
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ class layout():
         # This is commented out for runtime reasons
         # debug.info(4, "instance list: " + ",".join(x.name for x in self.insts))
         return self.insts[-1]
-
+    
     def get_inst(self, name):
         """ Retrieve an instance by name """
         for inst in self.insts:
@@ -244,6 +244,19 @@ class layout():
                 return inst
         return None
 
+    def add_flat_inst(self, name, mod, offset=[0, 0]):
+        """ Copies all of the items in instance into this module """
+        for item in mod.objs:
+            item.offset += offset
+            self.objs.append(item)
+        for item in mod.insts:
+            item.offset += offset
+            self.insts.append(item)
+            debug.check(len(item.mod.pins) == 0, "Cannot add flat instance with subinstances.")
+            self.connect_inst([])
+        debug.info(3, "adding flat instance {}".format(name))
+        return None
+
     def add_rect(self, layer, offset, width=None, height=None):
         """
         Adds a rectangle on a given layer,offset with width and height
@@ -1078,18 +1091,24 @@ class layout():
         """
         import channel_route
         cr = channel_route.channel_route(netlist, offset, layer_stack, directions, vertical=True, parent=self)
-        self.add_inst(cr.name, cr)
-        self.connect_inst([])
-
+        # This causes problem in magic since it sometimes cannot extract connectivity of isntances
+        # with no active devices.
+        # self.add_inst(cr.name, cr)
+        # self.connect_inst([])
+        self.add_flat_inst(cr.name, cr)
+        
     def create_horizontal_channel_route(self, netlist, offset, layer_stack, directions=None):
         """
         Wrapper to create a horizontal channel route
         """
         import channel_route
         cr = channel_route.channel_route(netlist, offset, layer_stack, directions, vertical=False, parent=self)
-        self.add_inst(cr.name, cr)
-        self.connect_inst([])
-
+        # This causes problem in magic since it sometimes cannot extract connectivity of isntances
+        # with no active devices.
+        # self.add_inst(cr.name, cr)
+        # self.connect_inst([])
+        self.add_flat_inst(cr.name, cr)
+        
     def add_boundary(self, ll=vector(0, 0), ur=None):
         """ Add boundary for debugging dimensions """
         if OPTS.netlist_only:
diff --git a/compiler/sram/sram_1bank.py b/compiler/sram/sram_1bank.py
index 55ea7527..c8dd7601 100644
--- a/compiler/sram/sram_1bank.py
+++ b/compiler/sram/sram_1bank.py
@@ -414,8 +414,11 @@ class sram_1bank(sram_base):
                                              layer_stack=self.m1_stack,
                                              parent=self)
             if add_routes:
-                self.add_inst(cr.name, cr)
-                self.connect_inst([])
+                # This causes problem in magic since it sometimes cannot extract connectivity of isntances
+                # with no active devices.
+                # self.add_inst(cr.name, cr)
+                # self.connect_inst([])
+                self.add_flat_inst(cr.name, cr)                
             else:
                 self.col_addr_bus_size[port] = cr.height