diff --git a/openlane/config/variable.py b/openlane/config/variable.py
index 42f3dd0e3..83f23d17c 100644
--- a/openlane/config/variable.py
+++ b/openlane/config/variable.py
@@ -77,10 +77,12 @@ class Instance:
 
     :param location: The physical co-ordinates of the Macro's origin.
     :param orientation: Whether the Macro is facing North or South.
+    :param placed: Whether the Macro is already placed or not. Useful with macros inside macros.
     """
 
-    location: Tuple[Decimal, Decimal]
-    orientation: Orientation
+    location: Optional[Tuple[Decimal, Decimal]]
+    orientation: Optional[Orientation]
+    placed: Optional[bool]
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -196,9 +198,12 @@ def instantiate(
         instance_name: str,
         location: Tuple[Number, Number],
         orientation: Orientation = Orientation.N,
+        placed: bool = False,
     ):
         location = (Decimal(location[0]), Decimal(location[1]))
-        self.instances[instance_name] = Instance(location, Orientation[orientation])
+        self.instances[instance_name] = Instance(
+            location, Orientation[orientation], placed
+        )
 
 
 def is_optional(t: Type[Any]) -> bool:
diff --git a/openlane/steps/odb.py b/openlane/steps/odb.py
index 3fc739b57..83059ac98 100644
--- a/openlane/steps/odb.py
+++ b/openlane/steps/odb.py
@@ -238,9 +238,22 @@ def run(self, state_in: State, **kwargs) -> Tuple[ViewsUpdate, MetricsUpdate]:
                                 f"Misconstructed configuration: macro definition for key {module} is not of type 'Macro'."
                             )
                         for name, data in macro.instances.items():
-                            f.write(
-                                f"{name} {data.location[0]} {data.location[1]} {data.orientation}\n"
-                            )
+                            if data.placed:
+                                info(
+                                    f"Not placing already placed marco instance: {name}."
+                                )
+                            else:
+                                if not data.location:
+                                    raise StepException(
+                                        f"Unspecified key: location for non-placed macro instance: {name}."
+                                    )
+                                if not data.orientation:
+                                    raise StepException(
+                                        f"Unspecified key: orientation> for non-placed macro instance: {name}"
+                                    )
+                                f.write(
+                                    f"{name} {data.location[0]} {data.location[1]} {data.orientation}\n"
+                                )
 
         if not cfg_file.exists():
             info(f"No instances found, skipping '{self.id}'…")