diff --git a/macros/utils/graph/get_elementary_relation.sql b/macros/utils/graph/get_elementary_relation.sql
index a50de55e0..76b99d65d 100644
--- a/macros/utils/graph/get_elementary_relation.sql
+++ b/macros/utils/graph/get_elementary_relation.sql
@@ -20,10 +20,32 @@
         {% if this and this.database == elementary_database and this.schema == elementary_schema and this.identifier == identifier_alias %}
             {% do return(this) %}
         {% endif %}
-        {% do return(
-            adapter.get_relation(
-                elementary_database, elementary_schema, identifier_alias
+        {% set relation = adapter.get_relation(
+            elementary_database, elementary_schema, identifier_alias
+        ) %}
+        {% if relation is not none %} {% do return(relation) %} {% endif %}
+        {# Relation not found in the target schema. Under dbt deferral
+           (--favor-state / --defer) the Elementary models may exist only
+           in the deferred (e.g. prod) schema and not in the current
+           target. Construct a relation from the graph node coordinates
+           so the generated SQL references the correct schema instead of
+           rendering "from None". #}
+        {% set is_defer = (
+            (
+                invocation_args_dict.get("defer", false)
+                or invocation_args_dict.get("favor_state", false)
             )
+            if invocation_args_dict
+            else false
         ) %}
+        {% if identifier_node and is_defer %}
+            {% do return(
+                api.Relation.create(
+                    database=elementary_database,
+                    schema=elementary_schema,
+                    identifier=identifier_alias,
+                )
+            ) %}
+        {% endif %}
     {%- endif %}
 {% endmacro %}