diff --git a/modeling/inference_models/basic_hf/class.py b/modeling/inference_models/basic_hf/class.py
index 74bfcd17..afca13ee 100644
--- a/modeling/inference_models/basic_hf/class.py
+++ b/modeling/inference_models/basic_hf/class.py
@@ -34,6 +34,24 @@ class model_backend(InferenceModel):
         self.model_name = "Basic Huggingface"
         self.path = None
 
+    def is_valid(self, model_name, model_path, menu_path):
+        try:
+            if model_path is not None and os.path.exists(model_path):
+                self.model_config = AutoConfig.from_pretrained(model_path)
+            elif os.path.exists("models/{}".format(model_name.replace("/", "_"))):
+                self.model_config = AutoConfig.from_pretrained(
+                    "models/{}".format(model_name.replace("/", "_")),
+                    revision=utils.koboldai_vars.revision,
+                    cache_dir="cache",
+                )
+            else:
+                self.model_config = AutoConfig.from_pretrained(
+                    model_name, revision=utils.koboldai_vars.revision, cache_dir="cache"
+                )
+            return True
+        except:
+            return False
+
     def get_requested_parameters(
         self, model_name: str, model_path: str, menu_path: str, parameters: dict = {}
     ):