diff --git a/R/atlas_counts.R b/R/atlas_counts.R
index 85809d21..6c5cfe4a 100644
--- a/R/atlas_counts.R
+++ b/R/atlas_counts.R
@@ -170,16 +170,6 @@ atlas_counts_internal <- function(identify = NULL,
 
   verbose <- getOption("galah_config")$verbose
 
-  # if `group_by` is as a vector
-  if(!is.null(group_by)){
-    if(!inherits(group_by, "galah_group_by")){
-      group_by <- galah_group_by(group_by)
-    }
-    if(nrow(group_by) < 1){
-      group_by <- NULL
-    }
-  }
-  
   # ensure profile works from galah_filter as well as galah_profile  
   if(inherits(data_profile, "galah_data_profile")){
     profile <- data_profile
diff --git a/R/galah_call.R b/R/galah_call.R
index f84d52b0..66eff2a3 100644
--- a/R/galah_call.R
+++ b/R/galah_call.R
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ galah_call <- function(identify = NULL,
   check_call_args(select, "select")
   check_call_args(geolocate, "geolocate")
   check_call_args(group_by, "group_by")
-  check_call_args(group_by, "data_profile")
+  check_call_args(data_profile, "data_profile")
   check_call_args(down_to, "down_to")
   
   request <- structure(c(list(identify = identify,
diff --git a/R/galah_group_by.R b/R/galah_group_by.R
index 8bbc44c6..ee898546 100644
--- a/R/galah_group_by.R
+++ b/R/galah_group_by.R
@@ -80,10 +80,9 @@ galah_group_by <- function(..., expand = TRUE){
     provided_variables <- dequote(unlist(lapply(dots, as_label)))
     if (getOption("galah_config")$run_checks){
       validate_fields(provided_variables)
-    }else{
-      available_variables <- provided_variables[
-        provided_variables %in% show_all_fields()$id]
     }
+    available_variables <- provided_variables[
+      provided_variables %in% show_all_fields()$id]
     if(length(available_variables) > 0){
       df <- tibble(name = available_variables)
       df$type <- ifelse(str_detect(df$name, "[[:lower:]]"), "field", "assertions")