diff --git a/kibot/optionable.py b/kibot/optionable.py
index c16ab938..ded90099 100644
--- a/kibot/optionable.py
+++ b/kibot/optionable.py
@@ -246,7 +246,8 @@ class Optionable(object):
         """ Returns the text to add for the current variant.
             Also try with the globally defined variant.
             If no variant is defined an empty string is returned. """
-        if hasattr(self, 'variant') and self.variant and hasattr(self.variant, 'file_id'):
+        if hasattr(self, 'variant') and self.variant:
+            self.variant = GS.solve_variant(self.variant)
             return self.variant.file_id
         return Optionable._find_global_variant()
 
@@ -260,7 +261,8 @@ class Optionable(object):
         """ Returns the name for the current variant.
             Also try with the globally defined variant.
             If no variant is defined an empty string is returned. """
-        if hasattr(self, 'variant') and self.variant and hasattr(self.variant, 'name'):
+        if hasattr(self, 'variant') and self.variant:
+            self.variant = GS.solve_variant(self.variant)
             return self.variant.name
         return Optionable._find_global_variant_name()
 
@@ -274,8 +276,10 @@ class Optionable(object):
         """ Returns the name of the sub-PCB.
             Also try with the globally defined variant.
             If no variant is defined an empty string is returned. """
-        if hasattr(self, 'variant') and self.variant and self.variant._sub_pcb:
-            return self.variant._sub_pcb.name
+        if hasattr(self, 'variant') and self.variant:
+            self.variant = GS.solve_variant(self.variant)
+            if self.variant._sub_pcb:
+                return self.variant._sub_pcb.name
         return Optionable._find_global_variant()
 
     def expand_filename_common(self, name, parent):
diff --git a/kibot/out_bom.py b/kibot/out_bom.py
index c23df0eb..16eff5dc 100644
--- a/kibot/out_bom.py
+++ b/kibot/out_bom.py
@@ -596,11 +596,8 @@ class BoMOptions(BaseOptions):
 
     def _normalize_variant(self):
         """ Replaces the name of the variant by an object handling it. """
-        if self.variant:
-            if not RegOutput.is_variant(self.variant):
-                raise KiPlotConfigurationError("Unknown variant name `{}`".format(self.variant))
-            self.variant = RegOutput.get_variant(self.variant)
-        else:
+        self.variant = RegOutput.check_variant(self.variant)
+        if self.variant is None:
             # If no variant is specified use the KiBoM variant class with basic functionality
             self.variant = KiBoM()
             self.variant.config_field = self.fit_field
diff --git a/kibot/registrable.py b/kibot/registrable.py
index 83356a96..c4fd5886 100644
--- a/kibot/registrable.py
+++ b/kibot/registrable.py
@@ -5,8 +5,12 @@
 # Project: KiBot (formerly KiPlot)
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from copy import copy
+from .gs import GS
 from .optionable import Optionable
 from .error import KiPlotConfigurationError
+from . import log
+
+logger = log.get_logger()
 
 
 class Registrable(object):
@@ -125,6 +129,8 @@ class RegOutput(Optionable, Registrable):
     @staticmethod
     def check_variant(variant):
         if variant:
+            if isinstance(variant, RegVariant):
+                return variant
             if not RegOutput.is_variant(variant):
                 raise KiPlotConfigurationError("Unknown variant name `{}`".format(variant))
             return RegOutput.get_variant(variant)
@@ -167,3 +173,12 @@ class RegDependency(Registrable):
             old_reg.roles.extend(aclass.roles)
         else:
             cl._registered[name] = aclass
+
+
+def solve_variant(variant):
+    if isinstance(variant, str):
+        return RegOutput.check_variant(variant)
+    return variant
+
+
+GS.solve_variant = solve_variant