diff --git a/lib/graphiti/resource/configuration.rb b/lib/graphiti/resource/configuration.rb
index 0710db3b6..7080d524a 100644
--- a/lib/graphiti/resource/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/graphiti/resource/configuration.rb
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ def polymorphic=(klasses)
           send(:prepend, Polymorphism)
         end
 
+        def polymorphic?
+          polymorphic.present?
+        end
+
         def type=(val)
           val = val&.to_sym
           if (val = super)
diff --git a/lib/graphiti/resource/polymorphism.rb b/lib/graphiti/resource/polymorphism.rb
index c8f1cceb6..e5d73e633 100644
--- a/lib/graphiti/resource/polymorphism.rb
+++ b/lib/graphiti/resource/polymorphism.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ def self.prepended(klass)
       end
 
       def serializer_for(model)
+        return super unless self.class.polymorphic?
+
         if polymorphic_child?
           serializer
         else
@@ -17,10 +19,14 @@ def serializer_for(model)
       end
 
       def associate_all(*args)
+        return super unless self.class.polymorphic?
+
         _associate(:associate_all, *args)
       end
 
       def associate(*args)
+        return super unless self.class.polymorphic?
+
         _associate(:associate, *args)
       end
 
@@ -34,6 +40,8 @@ def _associate(meth, parent, other, association_name, type)
 
       module ClassMethods
         def inherited(klass)
+          return super unless polymorphic?
+
           klass.type = nil
           klass.model = klass.infer_model
           klass.endpoint = klass.infer_endpoint
@@ -42,6 +50,8 @@ def inherited(klass)
         end
 
         def sideload(name)
+          return super unless polymorphic?
+
           if (split_on = name.to_s.split(/^on__/)).length > 1
             on_type, name = split_on[1].split("--").map(&:to_sym)
           end
diff --git a/spec/polymorphism_spec.rb b/spec/polymorphism_spec.rb
index 4890ea8e8..8be699248 100644
--- a/spec/polymorphism_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/polymorphism_spec.rb
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
       context "when unknown model returned" do
         around do |e|
           original = PORO::CreditCardResource.polymorphic
-          PORO::CreditCardResource.polymorphic = []
+          PORO::CreditCardResource.polymorphic = [PORO::VisaResource]
           begin
             e.run
           ensure
@@ -69,6 +69,24 @@
           }.to raise_error(Graphiti::Errors::PolymorphicResourceChildNotFound)
         end
       end
+
+      context "when no subclasses are configured" do
+        around do |e|
+          original = PORO::CreditCardResource.polymorphic
+          PORO::CreditCardResource.polymorphic = []
+          begin
+            e.run
+          ensure
+            PORO::CreditCardResource.polymorphic = original
+          end
+        end
+
+        it "behaves like a non-polymorphic resource" do
+          expect(PORO::CreditCardResource).not_to be_polymorphic
+          expect { resource.all.to_a }.not_to raise_error
+          expect(resource.new.serializer_for(mastercard)).to eq(resource.serializer)
+        end
+      end
     end
 
     context "via subclass" do