diff --git a/firedrake/mg/embedded.py b/firedrake/mg/embedded.py
index 1ea27a6663..752ec6ff13 100644
--- a/firedrake/mg/embedded.py
+++ b/firedrake/mg/embedded.py
@@ -2,9 +2,7 @@
 import ufl
 import finat.ufl
 import weakref
-from functools import reduce
 from enum import IntEnum
-from operator import and_
 from firedrake.petsc import PETSc
 from firedrake.embedding import get_embedding_dg_element
 
@@ -69,18 +67,18 @@ def __init__(self, *, native_transfers=None, use_averaging=True):
         self.use_averaging = use_averaging
         self.caches = {}
 
-    def is_native(self, element):
+    def is_native(self, element, op):
         if element in self.native_transfers.keys():
-            return True
+            return self.native_transfers[element][op] is not None
         if isinstance(element.cell, ufl.TensorProductCell) and len(element.sub_elements) > 0:
-            return reduce(and_, map(self.is_native, element.sub_elements))
+            return all(self.is_native(e, op) for e in element.sub_elements)
         return (element.family() in native_families) and not (element.variant() in non_native_variants)
 
     def _native_transfer(self, element, op):
         try:
             return self.native_transfers[element][op]
         except KeyError:
-            if self.is_native(element):
+            if self.is_native(element, op):
                 ops = firedrake.prolong, firedrake.restrict, firedrake.inject
                 return self.native_transfers.setdefault(element, ops)[op]
         return None
@@ -248,7 +246,7 @@ def op(self, source, target, transfer_op):
         if not self.requires_transfer(source_element, transfer_op, source, target):
             return
 
-        if self.is_native(source_element) and self.is_native(target_element):
+        if all(self.is_native(e, transfer_op) for e in (source_element, target_element)):
             self._native_transfer(source_element, transfer_op)(source, target)
         elif type(source_element) is finat.ufl.MixedElement:
             assert type(target_element) is finat.ufl.MixedElement
@@ -313,7 +311,7 @@ def restrict(self, source, target):
         if not self.requires_transfer(source_element, Op.RESTRICT, source, target):
             return
 
-        if self.is_native(source_element) and self.is_native(target_element):
+        if all(self.is_native(e, Op.RESTRICT) for e in (source_element, target_element)):
             self._native_transfer(source_element, Op.RESTRICT)(source, target)
         elif type(source_element) is finat.ufl.MixedElement:
             assert type(target_element) is finat.ufl.MixedElement
diff --git a/tests/multigrid/test_custom_transfer.py b/tests/multigrid/test_custom_transfer.py
index ecb4afc93f..b9760ac7c5 100644
--- a/tests/multigrid/test_custom_transfer.py
+++ b/tests/multigrid/test_custom_transfer.py
@@ -172,7 +172,8 @@ def prolong_Q(fine, coarse):
     assert count_Q == -2
 
 
-def test_custom_transfer_setting():
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("mode", ("full", pytest.param("partial", marks=pytest.mark.skipcomplexnoslate)))
+def test_custom_transfer_setting(mode):
     mesh = UnitIntervalMesh(2)
     mh = MeshHierarchy(mesh, 1)
     mesh = mh[-1]
@@ -194,7 +195,12 @@ def myprolong(coarse, fine):
     options = {"ksp_type": "preonly",
                "pc_type": "mg"}
 
-    transfer = TransferManager(native_transfers={V.ufl_element(): (myprolong, restrict, inject)})
+    if mode == "partial":
+        transfer_ops = (myprolong, None, None)
+    else:
+        transfer_ops = (myprolong, restrict, inject)
+
+    transfer = TransferManager(native_transfers={V.ufl_element(): transfer_ops})
     problem = LinearVariationalProblem(a, L, uh)
     solver = LinearVariationalSolver(problem, solver_parameters=options)
     solver.set_transfer_manager(transfer)