    # File lib/merb-core/controller/mixins/render.rb, line 373
      def _get_layout(layout = nil)
        return false if layout == false

        layout = layout.instance_of?(Symbol) && self.respond_to?(layout, true) ? send(layout) : layout
        layout = layout.to_s if layout

        # If a layout was provided, throw an error if it's not found
        if layout
          template_method, template_location =
            _template_for(layout, layout.index(".") ? nil : content_type, "layout")

          raise TemplateNotFound, "No layout found at #{template_location}" unless template_method
          template_method

        # If a layout was not provided, try the default locations
        else
          template, location = _template_for(controller_name, content_type, "layout")
          template, location = _template_for("application", content_type, "layout") unless template
          template
        end
      end