diff --git a/src/backend/distributed/planner/merge_planner.c b/src/backend/distributed/planner/merge_planner.c
index 89a3f7f6a..a3019e0ec 100644
--- a/src/backend/distributed/planner/merge_planner.c
+++ b/src/backend/distributed/planner/merge_planner.c
@@ -243,14 +243,19 @@ CreateNonPushableMergePlan(Oid targetRelationId, uint64 planId, Query *originalQ
 
 	CitusTableCacheEntry *targetRelation = GetCitusTableCacheEntry(targetRelationId);
 
-	/*
-	 * Get the index of the column in the source query that will be utilized
-	 * to repartition the source rows, ensuring colocation with the target
-	 */
-	distributedPlan->sourceResultRepartitionColumnIndex =
-		SourceResultPartitionColumnIndex(mergeQuery,
-										 sourceQuery->targetList,
-										 targetRelation);
+	bool repartitioned = IsSupportedRedistributionTarget(targetRelationId);
+
+	if(repartitioned)
+	{
+		/*
+		* Get the index of the column in the source query that will be utilized
+		* to repartition the source rows, ensuring colocation with the target
+		*/
+		distributedPlan->sourceResultRepartitionColumnIndex =
+			SourceResultPartitionColumnIndex(mergeQuery,
+											sourceQuery->targetList,
+											targetRelation);
+	}
 
 	/*
 	 * Make a copy of the source query, since following code scribbles it
@@ -262,9 +267,7 @@ CreateNonPushableMergePlan(Oid targetRelationId, uint64 planId, Query *originalQ
 	int cursorOptions = CURSOR_OPT_PARALLEL_OK;
 	PlannedStmt *sourceRowsPlan = pg_plan_query(sourceQueryCopy, NULL, cursorOptions,
 												boundParams);
-	bool repartitioned = IsRedistributablePlan(sourceRowsPlan->planTree) &&
-						 IsSupportedRedistributionTarget(targetRelationId);
-
+	repartitioned = repartitioned && IsRedistributablePlan(sourceRowsPlan->planTree);
 	/* If plan is distributed, no work at the coordinator */
 	if (repartitioned)
 	{
@@ -1005,18 +1008,12 @@ DeferErrorIfRoutableMergeNotSupported(Query *query, List *rangeTableList,
 	List *localTablesList = NIL;
 	RangeTblEntry *rangeTableEntry = NULL;
 
-	bool areAllDistTablesSingleSharded = true;
 	foreach_ptr(rangeTableEntry, rangeTableList)
 	{
 		Oid relationId = rangeTableEntry->relid;
 
 		if (IsCitusTableType(relationId, DISTRIBUTED_TABLE))
 		{
-			if (!IsCitusTableType(relationId, SINGLE_SHARD_DISTRIBUTED))
-			{
-				areAllDistTablesSingleSharded = false;
-			}
-
 			distTablesList = lappend(distTablesList, rangeTableEntry);
 		}
 		else if (IsCitusTableType(relationId, REFERENCE_TABLE))
@@ -1067,12 +1064,6 @@ DeferErrorIfRoutableMergeNotSupported(Query *query, List *rangeTableList,
 	/* Ensure all distributed tables are indeed co-located */
 	if (!AllDistributedRelationsInRTEListColocated(distTablesList))
 	{
-		/* All distributed tables are colocated and single sharded so we can push down to workers  */
-		if (areAllDistTablesSingleSharded)
-		{
-			return NULL;
-		}
-
 		ereport(DEBUG1, (errmsg("Distributed tables are not co-located, try "
 								"repartitioning")));
 		return DeferredError(ERRCODE_FEATURE_NOT_SUPPORTED,
@@ -1280,6 +1271,9 @@ ValidateAndReturnVarIfSupported(Node *entryExpr)
  * ON clause and verifies if there is a join, either left or right, with
  * the distribution column of the given target. Once a match is found, it
  * returns the index of that match in the source's target list.
+ * 
+ *  In the case of SINGLE_SHARD_DISTRIBUTED, there is no distribution key available for the target, which prevents repartitioning. 
+ *  Therefore, return -1 to signal the caller to utilize the Pull to coordinator approach.
  */
 static int
 SourceResultPartitionColumnIndex(Query *mergeQuery, List *sourceTargetList,
@@ -1287,9 +1281,7 @@ SourceResultPartitionColumnIndex(Query *mergeQuery, List *sourceTargetList,
 {
 	if (IsCitusTableType(targetRelation->relationId, SINGLE_SHARD_DISTRIBUTED))
 	{
-		ereport(ERROR, (errmsg("MERGE operation across distributed schemas "
-							   "or with a row-based distributed table is "
-							   "not yet supported")));
+		return -1;
 	}
 
 	/* Get all the Join conditions from the ON clause */