diff --git a/conda_lock/conda_lock.py b/conda_lock/conda_lock.py
index 0c96d4c84..bbafb65e6 100644
--- a/conda_lock/conda_lock.py
+++ b/conda_lock/conda_lock.py
@@ -54,7 +54,11 @@
     determine_conda_executable,
     is_micromamba,
 )
-from conda_lock.lockfile import parse_conda_lock_file, write_conda_lock_file
+from conda_lock.lockfile import (
+    UnknownLockfileVersion,
+    parse_conda_lock_file,
+    write_conda_lock_file,
+)
 from conda_lock.lockfile.v2prelim.models import (
     GitMeta,
     InputMeta,
@@ -933,14 +937,15 @@ def _render_lockfile_for_install(
 
     """
 
-    if not filename.name.endswith(DEFAULT_LOCKFILE_NAME):
+    try:
+        lock_content = parse_conda_lock_file(pathlib.Path(filename))
+    except yaml.YAMLError:
+        # This indicates a kind explicit lockfile, which is already rendered
         yield filename
         return
 
     from ensureconda.resolve import platform_subdir
 
-    lock_content = parse_conda_lock_file(pathlib.Path(filename))
-
     platform = platform_subdir()
     if platform not in lock_content.metadata.platforms:
         suggested_platforms_section = "platforms:\n- "
diff --git a/conda_lock/lockfile/__init__.py b/conda_lock/lockfile/__init__.py
index 4cc93dea4..1457da89d 100644
--- a/conda_lock/lockfile/__init__.py
+++ b/conda_lock/lockfile/__init__.py
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@
 from conda_lock.models.lock_spec import Dependency
 
 
+class UnknownLockfileVersion(ValueError):
+    pass
+
+
 def _seperator_munge_get(
     d: Mapping[str, Union[List[LockedDependency], LockedDependency]], key: str
 ) -> Union[List[LockedDependency], LockedDependency]:
@@ -136,7 +140,7 @@ def parse_conda_lock_file(path: pathlib.Path) -> Lockfile:
     if version == 1:
         return lockfile_v1_to_v2(LockfileV1.parse_obj(content))
     else:
-        raise ValueError(f"{path} has unknown version {version}")
+        raise UnknownLockfileVersion(f"{path} has unknown version {version}")
 
 
 def write_conda_lock_file(