diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/create/create_layout.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/create/create_layout.py
index 6dc87430aa..9fc0c5c4bc 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/create/create_layout.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/create/create_layout.py
@@ -8,3 +8,10 @@ class CreateLayout(plugin.Creator):
     label = "Layout"
     family = "layout"
     icon = "cubes"
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super(CreateLayout, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+
+
+        # enable this when you want to
+        # publish group of loaded asset
+        self.data["groupLoadedAssets"] = False
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/extract_layout.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/extract_layout.py
index 4ad2248d62..6b9af68997 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/extract_layout.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/publish/extract_layout.py
@@ -38,14 +38,19 @@ class ExtractLayout(publish.Extractor):
             container_list = cmds.ls(project_container)
             assert len(container_list) == 1, \
                 "Please create instance with loaded asset!"
-            # list the children of the containers
-            grp_name = asset.split(':')[0]
-            container_sel = cmds.ls("{}*_CON".format(grp_name))
-            if not container_sel:
-                assert container_sel == [], \
-                    "Use all loaded contents without renaming and grouping!" # noqa
-            for con in container_sel:
-                container = con
+
+            grp_loaded_ass = instance.data.get("groupLoadedAssets", False)
+            if grp_loaded_ass:
+                asset_list = cmds.listRelatives(asset, children=True)
+                for asset in asset_list:
+                    grp_name = asset.split(':')[0]
+            else:
+                grp_name = asset.split(':')[0]
+            containers = cmds.ls("{}*_CON".format(grp_name))
+            assert len(containers) > 0, \
+                    "Use all loaded contents without renaming" \
+                    "(and/or grouping if groupLoadedAssets disabled)" # noqa
+            container = containers[0]
 
             representation_id = cmds.getAttr(
                 "{}.representation".format(container))