diff --git a/R/tar_nlmixr.R b/R/tar_nlmixr.R
index 1b443d3..7e7bad2 100644
--- a/R/tar_nlmixr.R
+++ b/R/tar_nlmixr.R
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ tar_nlmixr_raw <- function(name, object, data, est, control, table, object_simpl
       command =
         substitute(
           nlmixr_object_simplify(object = object),
-          list(object = as.name(object))
+          list(object = object)
         ),
       packages = "nlmixr2est"
     ),
@@ -134,13 +134,16 @@ set_env_object_noinitial <- function(object, env) {
   if (is.name(object)) {
     object_env <- env[[as.character(object)]]
     if (is.function(object_env)) {
-      object_result <- try(object_env(), silent = TRUE)
+      object_result <- try(rxode2::assertRxUi(object_env), silent = TRUE)
       if (inherits(object_result, "rxUi")) {
         assign(x = as.character(object), value = object_result, envir = env)
       }
     }
-  } else {
-    stop("Object must be a name")
+  } else if (is.call(object)) {
+    # Recursively iterate over all parts of the call
+    lapply(X = object, FUN = set_env_object_noinitial, env = env)
   }
+  # If it's anything other than a name or a call, then we don't need to modify
+  # it or its sub-objects.
   NULL
 }
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-tar_nlmixr.R b/tests/testthat/test-tar_nlmixr.R
index 6ed5850..9b66f48 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-tar_nlmixr.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-tar_nlmixr.R
@@ -147,6 +147,37 @@ targets::tar_test("tar_nlmixr handling with initial conditions central(0), witho
   expect_s3_class(pheno, "rxUi")
 })
 
+targets::tar_test("tar_nlmixr handling with initial conditions central(0) including model piping, without running the target", {
+  pheno <- function() {
+    ini({
+      lcl <- log(0.008); label("Typical value of clearance")
+      lvc <-  log(0.6); label("Typical value of volume of distribution")
+      etalcl + etalvc ~ c(1,
+                          0.01, 1)
+      cpaddSd <- 0.1; label("residual variability")
+    })
+    model({
+      cl <- exp(lcl + etalcl)
+      vc <- exp(lvc + etalvc)
+      kel <- cl/vc
+      d/dt(central) <- -kel*central
+      cp <- central/vc
+      central(0) <- 0
+      cp ~ add(cpaddSd)
+    })
+  }
+
+  nlmixr2targets::tar_nlmixr(
+    name=pheno_model,
+    object=pheno |> ini(lcl = log(0.1)),
+    data=nlmixr2data::pheno_sd,
+    est="saem",
+    # Minimize time spent
+    control=nlmixr2est::saemControl(nBurn=1, nEm=1)
+  )
+
+  expect_s3_class(pheno, "rxUi")
+})
 
 # targets::tar_test() runs the test code inside a temporary directory
 # to avoid accidentally writing to the user's file space.