diff --git a/pyneuroml/plot/PlotMorphology.py b/pyneuroml/plot/PlotMorphology.py
index d28faae4..51cdab30 100644
--- a/pyneuroml/plot/PlotMorphology.py
+++ b/pyneuroml/plot/PlotMorphology.py
@@ -355,10 +355,22 @@ def plot_2D(
         logger.debug(f"plottable cell model is: {plottable_nml_model.cells[0]}")
         if title is None:
             title = f"{plottable_nml_model.cells[0].id}"
+    # if it's a document, figure out if it's a cell or morphology
     elif isinstance(nml_model, NeuroMLDocument):
-        plottable_nml_model = fix_external_morphs_biophys_in_cell(
-            nml_model, overwrite=False
-        )
+        logger.debug("Received document, checking for cells/morphologies")
+        if len(nml_model.cells) > 0:
+            logger.debug("Received document with cells")
+            plottable_nml_model = fix_external_morphs_biophys_in_cell(
+                nml_model, overwrite=False
+            )
+        elif len(nml_model.morphology) > 0:
+            logger.debug("Received document with morphologies, adding to dummy cells")
+            plottable_nml_model = NeuroMLDocument(id="newdoc")
+            for m in nml_model.morphology:
+                plottable_nml_model.add(Cell, id=m.id, morphology=m, validate=False)
+            logger.debug(f"plottable cell model is: {plottable_nml_model.cells[0]}")
+            # use title from original model document
+            title = nml_model.id
 
     if title is None:
         title = f"{plottable_nml_model.id}"
diff --git a/pyneuroml/plot/PlotMorphologyVispy.py b/pyneuroml/plot/PlotMorphologyVispy.py
index 090ca4a7..9bb92870 100644
--- a/pyneuroml/plot/PlotMorphologyVispy.py
+++ b/pyneuroml/plot/PlotMorphologyVispy.py
@@ -528,21 +528,33 @@ def plot_interactive_3D(
         if title is None:
             title = f"{plottable_nml_model.cells[0].id}"
 
-    # if it's only a cell, add it to an empty cell in a document
+    # if it's only a morphology, add it to an empty cell in a document
     elif isinstance(nml_model, Morphology):
         logger.debug("Received morph, adding to a dummy cell")
         plottable_nml_model = NeuroMLDocument(id="newdoc")
-        nml_cell = plottable_nml_model.add(
+        plottable_nml_model.add(
             Cell, id=nml_model.id, morphology=nml_model, validate=False
         )
-        plottable_nml_model.add(nml_cell)
         logger.debug(f"plottable cell model is: {plottable_nml_model.cells[0]}")
         if title is None:
             title = f"{plottable_nml_model.cells[0].id}"
+
+    # if it's a document, figure out if it's a cell or morphology
     elif isinstance(nml_model, NeuroMLDocument):
-        plottable_nml_model = fix_external_morphs_biophys_in_cell(
-            nml_model, overwrite=False
-        )
+        logger.debug("Received document, checking for cells/morphologies")
+        if len(nml_model.cells) > 0:
+            logger.debug("Received document with cells")
+            plottable_nml_model = fix_external_morphs_biophys_in_cell(
+                nml_model, overwrite=False
+            )
+        elif len(nml_model.morphology) > 0:
+            logger.debug("Received document with morphologies, adding to dummy cells")
+            plottable_nml_model = NeuroMLDocument(id="newdoc")
+            for m in nml_model.morphology:
+                plottable_nml_model.add(Cell, id=m.id, morphology=m, validate=False)
+            logger.debug(f"plottable cell model is: {plottable_nml_model.cells[0]}")
+            # use title from original model document
+            title = nml_model.id
 
     if title is None:
         title = f"{plottable_nml_model.id}"