diff --git a/semantic_router/layer.py b/semantic_router/layer.py
index 23f82da319d478ea30d487a526b63687026ed4ab..83234879b8c3b9dc64a149102f7234ad71c94702 100644
--- a/semantic_router/layer.py
+++ b/semantic_router/layer.py
@@ -182,17 +182,21 @@ class RouteLayer:
             # initialize index now
             self._add_routes(routes=self.routes)
 
-    def __call__(self, text: str) -> RouteChoice:
-        results = self._query(text)
-        top_class, top_class_scores = self._semantic_classify(results)
-        # get chosen route object
+    def check_for_matching_routes(self, top_class: str) -> Optional[Route]:
         matching_routes = [route for route in self.routes if route.name == top_class]
         if not matching_routes:
             logger.error(
                 f"No route found with name {top_class}. Check to see if any Routes have been defined."
             )
+            return None
+        return matching_routes[0]
+
+    def __call__(self, text: str) -> RouteChoice:
+        results = self._query(text)
+        top_class, top_class_scores = self._semantic_classify(results)
+        route = self.check_for_matching_routes(top_class)
+        if route is None:
             return RouteChoice()
-        route = matching_routes[0]
         threshold = (
             route.score_threshold
             if route.score_threshold is not None