diff --git a/docs/gpu.mdx b/docs/gpu.mdx
index 36bfd3da7..da04ce240 100644
--- a/docs/gpu.mdx
+++ b/docs/gpu.mdx
@@ -163,4 +163,34 @@ To select specific Vulkan GPU(s), you can set the environment variable
 `GGML_VK_VISIBLE_DEVICES` to one or more numeric IDs on the Ollama server as
 described in the [FAQ](faq.md#how-do-i-configure-ollama-server). If you
 encounter any problems with Vulkan based GPUs, you can disable all Vulkan GPUs
-by setting `GGML_VK_VISIBLE_DEVICES=-1` 
\ No newline at end of file
+by setting `GGML_VK_VISIBLE_DEVICES=-1`
+
+
+## Advanced: Manually overriding multi-GPU layer split
+
+By default, Ollama decides how many layers to offload to each GPU based on free
+memory and other heuristics. For some large models and specific hardware mixes you may
+prefer a `manual split`.
+
+Set the environment variable `OLLAMA_OVERRIDE_CONFIG` to an INI file (or place one at
+`~/.ollama.ini`) and add a section for the model’s `short name` with a `tensor-split`
+value:
+
+```ini
+[llama3:70b]
+tensor-split=18,21,21,21
+```
+
+The list represents proportions for each visible GPU, in order. The sum of
+the values determines how many of the last layers will be offloaded to GPU VRAM
+(`n_gpu_layers = sum(tensor-split)`). The assignment is proportional across devices:
+larger numbers get more of those last layers.
+
+**Constraints**
+
+- The number of values must be ≤ the number of visible GPUs.
+- All values must be non-negative integers.
+- If invalid or not present for the model, Ollama falls back to its heuristics.
+
+This feature is intended for expert tuning when the automatic split under-utilizes
+your GPUs for a given model/context configuration.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/envconfig/config.go b/envconfig/config.go
index 238e5e6e1..3eec78f43 100644
--- a/envconfig/config.go
+++ b/envconfig/config.go
@@ -206,6 +206,9 @@ var (
 	UseAuth = Bool("OLLAMA_AUTH")
 	// Enable Vulkan backend
 	EnableVulkan = Bool("OLLAMA_VULKAN")
+	// Optional path to per-model override file (INI).
+	// If unset, defaults to ~/.ollama.ini
+	OverrideConfigPath = String("OLLAMA_OVERRIDE_CONFIG")
 )
 
 func String(s string) func() string {
@@ -293,6 +296,7 @@ func AsMap() map[string]EnvVar {
 		"OLLAMA_CONTEXT_LENGTH":    {"OLLAMA_CONTEXT_LENGTH", ContextLength(), "Context length to use unless otherwise specified (default: 4096)"},
 		"OLLAMA_NEW_ENGINE":        {"OLLAMA_NEW_ENGINE", NewEngine(), "Enable the new Ollama engine"},
 		"OLLAMA_REMOTES":           {"OLLAMA_REMOTES", Remotes(), "Allowed hosts for remote models (default \"ollama.com\")"},
+		"OLLAMA_OVERRIDE_CONFIG":   {"OLLAMA_OVERRIDE_CONFIG", OverrideConfigPath(), "Path to model override config (default: ~/.ollama.ini)"},
 
 		// Informational
 		"HTTP_PROXY":  {"HTTP_PROXY", String("HTTP_PROXY")(), "HTTP proxy"},
diff --git a/envconfig/override.go b/envconfig/override.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..71f10168a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/envconfig/override.go
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+package envconfig
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+type Override struct {
+	ModelName    string
+	NumGPULayers int   // -1 means unset
+	TensorSplit  []int // nil means unset
+}
+
+// LoadOverride loads overrides for the given model section name (e.g. "llama3.2-vision:90b").
+// The INI format is:
+//   [model-name:params]
+//   tensor-split=<int[,int,...]>
+// Note: n-gpu-layers is not read from the file; it is always derived as the sum of tensor-split.
+// Returns nil if no file or no matching section.
+func LoadOverride(model string) *Override {
+	// Resolve config path
+	path := OverrideConfigPath()
+	if path == "" {
+		home, _ := os.UserHomeDir()
+		if home == "" {
+			return nil
+		}
+		path = filepath.Join(home, ".ollama.ini")
+	}
+	f, err := os.Open(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	defer f.Close()
+
+	sectionHdr := "[" + model + "]"
+	var inSection bool
+	ovr := &Override{ModelName: model, NumGPULayers: -1}
+
+	sc := bufio.NewScanner(f)
+	for sc.Scan() {
+		line := strings.TrimSpace(sc.Text())
+		if line == "" || strings.HasPrefix(line, "#") || strings.HasPrefix(line, ";") {
+			continue
+		}
+		if strings.HasPrefix(line, "[") && strings.HasSuffix(line, "]") {
+			inSection = (line == sectionHdr)
+			continue
+		}
+		if !inSection {
+			continue
+		}
+		kv := strings.SplitN(line, "=", 2)
+		if len(kv) != 2 {
+			continue
+		}
+		k := strings.TrimSpace(strings.ToLower(kv[0]))
+		v := strings.TrimSpace(kv[1])
+
+		switch k {
+		case "tensor-split":
+			if arr := parseUintList(v); len(arr) > 0 {
+				ovr.TensorSplit = arr
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// If a tensor-split is provided, NumGPULayers is always the sum of entries.
+	if len(ovr.TensorSplit) > 0 {
+		total := 0
+		for _, n := range ovr.TensorSplit {
+			total += n
+		}
+		ovr.NumGPULayers = total
+	}
+
+	// If nothing set, return nil
+	if ovr.NumGPULayers < 0 && len(ovr.TensorSplit) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return ovr
+}
+
+func parseUint(s string) int {
+	s = strings.TrimSpace(s)
+	if s == "" {
+		return -1
+	}
+	var n int
+	for _, r := range s {
+		if r < '0' || r > '9' {
+			return -1
+		}
+		n = n*10 + int(r-'0')
+	}
+	return n
+}
+
+func parseUintList(s string) []int {
+	s = strings.TrimSpace(s)
+	if s == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	parts := strings.Split(s, ",")
+	out := make([]int, 0, len(parts))
+	for _, p := range parts {
+		n := parseUint(strings.TrimSpace(p))
+		if n < 0 {
+			return nil
+		}
+		out = append(out, n)
+	}
+	return out
+}
diff --git a/envconfig/override_test.go b/envconfig/override_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a8f124020
--- /dev/null
+++ b/envconfig/override_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+package envconfig
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestParseUint(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		in   string
+		want int
+	}{
+		{"0", 0},
+		{"1", 1},
+		{"123", 123},
+		{"", -1},
+		{" 42 ", 42},
+		{"-1", -1},
+		{"abc", -1},
+		{"12x", -1},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		if got := parseUint(tt.in); got != tt.want {
+			t.Fatalf("parseUint(%q) = %d; want %d", tt.in, got, tt.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseUintList(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		in   string
+		want []int
+	}{
+		{"", nil},
+		{"1", []int{1}},
+		{"1,2,3", []int{1, 2, 3}},
+		{" 4 , 5 , 6 ", []int{4, 5, 6}},
+		{"1, -2", nil}, // invalid -> whole list rejected
+		{"a,b", nil},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		got := parseUintList(tt.in)
+		if (got == nil) != (tt.want == nil) {
+			t.Fatalf("parseUintList(%q) = %v; want %v", tt.in, got, tt.want)
+		}
+		if got == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		if len(got) != len(tt.want) {
+			t.Fatalf("parseUintList(%q) len=%d; want %d", tt.in, len(got), len(tt.want))
+		}
+		for i := range got {
+			if got[i] != tt.want[i] {
+				t.Fatalf("parseUintList(%q)[%d]=%d; want %d", tt.in, i, got[i], tt.want[i])
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadOverride_Basic(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	cfg := filepath.Join(dir, "over.ini")
+	content := `
+; comment
+[llama3.2-vision:90b]
+n-gpu-layers=33
+tensor-split=10,20,30
+
+[other]
+n-gpu-layers=1
+`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(cfg, []byte(content), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("OLLAMA_OVERRIDE_CONFIG", cfg)
+
+	ovr := LoadOverride("llama3.2-vision:90b")
+	if ovr == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadOverride returned nil")
+	}
+	if ovr.ModelName != "llama3.2-vision:90b" {
+		t.Fatalf("ModelName=%q; want %q", ovr.ModelName, "llama3.2-vision:90b")
+	}
+	// n-gpu-layers must be the sum of tensor-split entries (10+20+30=60).
+	if ovr.NumGPULayers != 60 {
+		t.Fatalf("NumGPULayers=%d; want %d", ovr.NumGPULayers, 60)
+	}
+	wantSplit := []int{10, 20, 30}
+	if len(ovr.TensorSplit) != len(wantSplit) {
+		t.Fatalf("TensorSplit len=%d; want %d", len(ovr.TensorSplit), len(wantSplit))
+	}
+	for i := range wantSplit {
+		if ovr.TensorSplit[i] != wantSplit[i] {
+			t.Fatalf("TensorSplit[%d]=%d; want %d", i, ovr.TensorSplit[i], wantSplit[i])
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadOverride_NoMatchOrEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	cfg := filepath.Join(dir, "over.ini")
+	content := `
+[some-model]
+n-gpu-layers=7
+`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(cfg, []byte(content), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("OLLAMA_OVERRIDE_CONFIG", cfg)
+
+	// Section exists but different model -> nil
+	if got := LoadOverride("another-model"); got != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected nil for unmatched section, got %#v", got)
+	}
+
+	// File missing -> nil
+	t.Setenv("OLLAMA_OVERRIDE_CONFIG", filepath.Join(dir, "missing.ini"))
+	if got := LoadOverride("some-model"); got != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected nil for missing file, got %#v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadOverride_BadValuesIgnored(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	cfg := filepath.Join(dir, "over.ini")
+	content := `
+[m]
+n-gpu-layers=abc
+tensor-split=1,2,x
+`
+	if err := os.WriteFile(cfg, []byte(content), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Setenv("OLLAMA_OVERRIDE_CONFIG", cfg)
+
+	if got := LoadOverride("m"); got != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected nil when no valid keys parsed, got %#v", got)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/llm/server.go b/llm/server.go
index a89027b06..e72f55b0b 100644
--- a/llm/server.go
+++ b/llm/server.go
@@ -103,7 +103,8 @@ type llmServer struct {
 	loadStart    time.Time // Record how long it took the model to load
 	loadProgress float32
 
-	sem *semaphore.Weighted
+	sem      *semaphore.Weighted
+	override *envconfig.Override
 }
 
 type llamaServer struct {
@@ -118,6 +119,80 @@ type ollamaServer struct {
 	textProcessor model.TextProcessor // textProcessor handles text encoding/decoding
 }
 
+// buildGPULayersFromOverride constructs an explicit ml.GPULayersList from a
+// per-model override configuration.
+//
+// It takes:
+//   - totalLayers: the total number of layers in the model (i.e. block_count+1,
+//     including the output layer).
+//   - gpus: the visible GPUs, whose order is used to map tensor-split entries to
+//     device IDs (tensor-split index i -> gpus[i]).
+//   - override: the parsed override which provides:
+//       * NumGPULayers: how many of the last model layers to offload, and
+//       * TensorSplit: integer weights describing how to distribute those layers
+//         across the GPUs (proportional split).
+//
+// The function assigns the last NumGPULayers layers in the range
+// [blocks-NumGPULayers, blocks] to GPUs according to the cumulative proportions
+// derived from TensorSplit. If TensorSplit has more entries than visible GPUs,
+// any required value is non-positive, the proportional total is zero, or the
+// computed span is empty, the function returns nil to signal "no override".
+//
+// On success it returns a non-empty GPULayersList; otherwise it returns nil.
+//
+func buildGPULayersFromOverride(totalLayers int, gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, override *envconfig.Override) ml.GPULayersList {
+	if totalLayers <= 0 || len(gpus) == 0 || override == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if len(override.TensorSplit) > len(gpus) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	// cumulative proportions
+	var total int
+	for _, v := range override.TensorSplit {
+		total += v
+	}
+	if total <= 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	cum := make([]float32, len(override.TensorSplit))
+	var run float32
+	for i, v := range override.TensorSplit {
+		run += float32(v) / float32(total)
+		cum[i] = run
+	}
+
+	// totalLayers = blocks + 1
+	blocks := totalLayers - 1
+	start := max(0, blocks-override.NumGPULayers)
+	stop := min(start+override.NumGPULayers, blocks+1)
+
+	gl := make(ml.GPULayersList, len(gpus))
+	for i := range gpus {
+		gl[i].DeviceID = gpus[i].DeviceID
+	}
+
+	span := float32(stop - start)
+	if span <= 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	for layer := start; layer < stop; layer++ {
+		ratio := float32(layer-start) / span
+		idx := 0
+		for i := range cum {
+			if ratio < cum[i] {
+				idx = i
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		gl[idx].Layers = append(gl[idx].Layers, layer)
+	}
+	if gl.Sum() == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return gl
+}
+
 // LoadModel will load a model from disk. The model must be in the GGML format.
 //
 // It collects array values for arrays with a size less than or equal to
@@ -139,7 +214,7 @@ func LoadModel(model string, maxArraySize int) (*ggml.GGML, error) {
 }
 
 // NewLlamaServer will run a server for the given GPUs
-func NewLlamaServer(systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, modelPath string, f *ggml.GGML, adapters, projectors []string, opts api.Options, numParallel int) (LlamaServer, error) {
+func NewLlamaServer(systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, modelPath string, f *ggml.GGML, adapters, projectors []string, opts api.Options, numParallel int, override *envconfig.Override) (LlamaServer, error) {
 	var llamaModel *llama.Model
 	var textProcessor model.TextProcessor
 	var err error
@@ -280,6 +355,7 @@ func NewLlamaServer(systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, modelPath st
 		totalLayers:    f.KV().BlockCount() + 1,
 		loadStart:      time.Now(),
 		done:           make(chan error, 1),
+		override:       override,
 	}
 
 	if err != nil {
@@ -492,6 +568,75 @@ type LoadResponse struct {
 
 var ErrLoadRequiredFull = errors.New("unable to load full model on GPU")
 
+// maybeApplyOverride attempts to replace a heuristic GPU layer layout with a
+// per-model override read from OLLAMA_OVERRIDE_CONFIG.
+//
+// Inputs:
+//   - gpus: the set of visible GPUs (their order is used to map tensor-split
+//     entries onto devices: tensor-split index i -> gpus[i]).
+//   - gpuLayers: the current, heuristic ml.GPULayersList that would be used if
+//     no override is applied.
+//
+// Behavior:
+//   * If no override is configured, or it is incomplete (missing NumGPULayers
+//     or TensorSplit), the function returns the original gpuLayers and false.
+//   * If TensorSplit has more entries than visible GPUs, or NumGPULayers
+//     exceeds the model's total layers (block_count+1), the override is ignored
+//     and the function returns the original gpuLayers and false (with a log
+//     warning).
+//   * Otherwise, it builds a replacement assignment via buildGPULayersFromOverride.
+//     On success, it logs the application, updates s.options.NumGPU to match
+//     the override's NumGPULayers (so downstream logging/heuristics see a
+//     consistent value), and returns (override, true). If the mapping produces
+//     no layers, the heuristic layout is kept and false is returned.
+//
+func (s *llmServer) maybeApplyOverride(gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, gpuLayers ml.GPULayersList) (ml.GPULayersList, bool) {
+	// If no override loaded, or incomplete, bail out
+	if s.override == nil || s.override.NumGPULayers <= 0 || len(s.override.TensorSplit) == 0 {
+		return gpuLayers, false
+	}
+
+	// Too many split entries for visible GPUs? Warn and fallback.
+	if len(s.override.TensorSplit) > len(gpus) {
+		slog.Warn(
+			"Override ignored: tensor-split override has more entries than visible GPUs; using heuristic split instead",
+			"model", s.override.ModelName,
+			"tensor_split_entries", len(s.override.TensorSplit),
+			"visible_gpus", len(gpus),
+		)
+		return gpuLayers, false
+	}
+
+	// Clamp to model size (totalLayers == block_count + 1)
+	maxLayers := int(s.totalLayers)
+	if s.override.NumGPULayers > maxLayers {
+		slog.Warn(
+			"Override ignored: n_gpu_layers is larger than the maximum supported; using heuristic split instead",
+			"model", s.override.ModelName,
+			"max_layers", maxLayers,
+			"n_gpu_layers", s.override.NumGPULayers,
+		)
+		return gpuLayers, false
+	}
+
+	override := buildGPULayersFromOverride(int(s.totalLayers), gpus, s.override)
+	if override == nil || override.Sum() == 0 {
+		slog.Warn("Override ignored: override mapping produced no layers; using heuristic layout instead")
+		return gpuLayers, false
+	}
+
+	slog.Info(
+		"Applying override from OLLAMA_OVERRIDE_CONFIG",
+		"model", s.override.ModelName,
+		"n_gpu_layers", s.override.NumGPULayers,
+		"tensor_split", s.override.TensorSplit,
+		"layers_offloaded", override.Sum(),
+	)
+	// Align NumGPU with override for downstream logging / heuristics that read it
+	s.options.NumGPU = s.override.NumGPULayers
+	return override, true
+}
+
 func (s *llamaServer) Load(ctx context.Context, systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, systemGPUs []ml.DeviceInfo, requireFull bool) ([]ml.DeviceID, error) {
 	slog.Info("loading model", "model layers", s.totalLayers, "requested", s.options.NumGPU)
 
@@ -626,6 +771,11 @@ func (s *llamaServer) Load(ctx context.Context, systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, system
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Apply per-model override
+	if newLayers, ok := s.maybeApplyOverride(gpus, gpuLayers); ok {
+		gpuLayers = newLayers
+	}
+
 	// This maintains the historical assignment of graph sizes, though it isn't fully accurate
 	graphSize := graphFullOffload
 	if gpuLayers.Sum() < int(s.totalLayers) {
@@ -761,6 +911,11 @@ nextOperation:
 	for operation := LoadOperationFit; operation < LoadOperationCommit; operation++ {
 	nextLoad:
 		for {
+			// Apply per-model override if present
+			if newLayers, ok := s.maybeApplyOverride(gpus, gpuLayers); ok {
+				gpuLayers = newLayers
+			}
+
 			s.loadRequest.GPULayers = gpuLayers
 			resp, err := s.initModel(ctx, s.loadRequest, operation)
 			if err != nil {
diff --git a/llm/server_test.go b/llm/server_test.go
index 5dc0aa9bc..b121a2e69 100644
--- a/llm/server_test.go
+++ b/llm/server_test.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ollama/ollama/api"
 	"github.com/ollama/ollama/format"
+	"github.com/ollama/ollama/envconfig"
 	"github.com/ollama/ollama/ml"
 	"golang.org/x/sync/semaphore"
 )
@@ -279,3 +280,125 @@ func TestLLMServerCompletionFormat(t *testing.T) {
 	}, nil)
 	checkValid(err)
 }
+
+func TestBuildGPULayersFromOverride_Basic(t *testing.T) {
+	// totalLayers = blocks + 1. With totalLayers=5 -> blocks in [0..4].
+	totalLayers := 5
+	gpus := []ml.DeviceInfo{
+		{DeviceID: ml.DeviceID{ID: "gpu0"}},
+		{DeviceID: ml.DeviceID{ID: "gpu1"}},
+	}
+	ov := &envconfig.Override{
+		ModelName:     "dummy",
+		NumGPULayers:  4,        // assign last 4 layers: indices 0..3 with our simplified test
+		TensorSplit:   []int{1,1}, // even split across 2 GPUs
+	}
+
+	gl := buildGPULayersFromOverride(totalLayers, gpus, ov)
+	if gl == nil || gl.Sum() == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected non-empty GPULayersList, got %#v", gl)
+	}
+
+	// Expect gpu0 to get first half (layers 0,1) and gpu1 to get (2,3)
+	want := ml.GPULayersList{
+		{DeviceID: gpus[0].DeviceID, Layers: []int{0, 1}},
+		{DeviceID: gpus[1].DeviceID, Layers: []int{2, 3}},
+	}
+	if gl.Hash() != want.Hash() {
+		t.Errorf("override mapping = %v, want %v", gl, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBuildGPULayersFromOverride_TooManySplits(t *testing.T) {
+	totalLayers := 5
+	gpus := []ml.DeviceInfo{
+		{DeviceID: ml.DeviceID{ID: "gpu0"}},
+		{DeviceID: ml.DeviceID{ID: "gpu1"}},
+	}
+	ov := &envconfig.Override{
+		ModelName:    "dummy",
+		NumGPULayers: 4,
+		TensorSplit:  []int{1, 1, 1}, // 3 entries, only 2 GPUs
+	}
+	gl := buildGPULayersFromOverride(totalLayers, gpus, ov)
+	if gl != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected nil due to too many tensor-split entries, got %v", gl)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBuildGPULayersFromOverride_ZeroTotalSplit(t *testing.T) {
+	totalLayers := 5
+	gpus := []ml.DeviceInfo{
+		{DeviceID: ml.DeviceID{ID: "gpu0"}},
+		{DeviceID: ml.DeviceID{ID: "gpu1"}},
+	}
+	ov := &envconfig.Override{
+		ModelName:    "dummy",
+		NumGPULayers: 4,
+		TensorSplit:  []int{0, 0}, // totals to zero
+	}
+	gl := buildGPULayersFromOverride(totalLayers, gpus, ov)
+	if gl != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected nil due to zero/invalid tensor-split total, got %v", gl)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMaybeApplyOverride_Applies(t *testing.T) {
+	// Model with 5 total layers (blocks 0..4).
+	s := &llmServer{
+		totalLayers: 5,
+		options:     api.Options{},
+		override: &envconfig.Override{
+			ModelName:    "dummy",
+			NumGPULayers: 4,
+			TensorSplit:  []int{1, 1},
+		},
+	}
+	gpus := []ml.DeviceInfo{
+		{DeviceID: ml.DeviceID{ID: "gpu0"}},
+		{DeviceID: ml.DeviceID{ID: "gpu1"}},
+	}
+	// Heuristic layout (will be replaced)
+	heuristic := ml.GPULayersList{
+		{DeviceID: gpus[1].DeviceID, Layers: []int{0, 1}},
+	}
+	got, ok := s.maybeApplyOverride(gpus, heuristic)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("expected override to be applied")
+	}
+	// Expect override mapping (even split)
+	want := ml.GPULayersList{
+		{DeviceID: gpus[0].DeviceID, Layers: []int{0, 1}},
+		{DeviceID: gpus[1].DeviceID, Layers: []int{2, 3}},
+	}
+	if got.Hash() != want.Hash() {
+		t.Errorf("maybeApplyOverride = %v, want %v", got, want)
+	}
+	// options.NumGPU should align with override.NumGPULayers
+	if s.options.NumGPU != s.override.NumGPULayers {
+		t.Errorf("options.NumGPU = %d, want %d", s.options.NumGPU, s.override.NumGPULayers)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMaybeApplyOverride_RejectsTooManySplits(t *testing.T) {
+	s := &llmServer{
+		totalLayers: 5,
+		options:     api.Options{},
+		override: &envconfig.Override{
+			ModelName:    "dummy",
+			NumGPULayers: 4,
+			TensorSplit:  []int{1, 1, 1}, // 3 entries, 2 GPUs -> reject
+		},
+	}
+	gpus := []ml.DeviceInfo{
+		{DeviceID: ml.DeviceID{ID: "gpu0"}},
+		{DeviceID: ml.DeviceID{ID: "gpu1"}},
+	}
+	heuristic := ml.GPULayersList{
+		{DeviceID: gpus[1].DeviceID, Layers: []int{0, 1}},
+	}
+	got, ok := s.maybeApplyOverride(gpus, heuristic)
+	if ok || got.Hash() != heuristic.Hash() {
+		t.Fatalf("expected override to be ignored and heuristic preserved; got=%v ok=%v", got, ok)
+	}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/server/routes_generate_test.go b/server/routes_generate_test.go
index 13befff2a..95da5bf38 100644
--- a/server/routes_generate_test.go
+++ b/server/routes_generate_test.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
 
 	"github.com/ollama/ollama/api"
+	"github.com/ollama/ollama/envconfig"
 	"github.com/ollama/ollama/fs/ggml"
 	"github.com/ollama/ollama/llm"
 	"github.com/ollama/ollama/ml"
@@ -48,8 +49,8 @@ func (mockRunner) Tokenize(_ context.Context, s string) (tokens []int, err error
 	return
 }
 
-func newMockServer(mock *mockRunner) func(ml.SystemInfo, []ml.DeviceInfo, string, *ggml.GGML, []string, []string, api.Options, int) (llm.LlamaServer, error) {
-	return func(_ ml.SystemInfo, _ []ml.DeviceInfo, _ string, _ *ggml.GGML, _, _ []string, _ api.Options, _ int) (llm.LlamaServer, error) {
+func newMockServer(mock *mockRunner) func(ml.SystemInfo, []ml.DeviceInfo, string, *ggml.GGML, []string, []string, api.Options, int, *envconfig.Override) (llm.LlamaServer, error) {
+	return func(_ ml.SystemInfo, _ []ml.DeviceInfo, _ string, _ *ggml.GGML, _, _ []string, _ api.Options, _ int, _ *envconfig.Override) (llm.LlamaServer, error) {
 		return mock, nil
 	}
 }
diff --git a/server/sched.go b/server/sched.go
index c5bc6692d..3ffb8384d 100644
--- a/server/sched.go
+++ b/server/sched.go
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ type Scheduler struct {
 	loaded        map[string]*runnerRef
 
 	loadFn          func(req *LlmRequest, f *ggml.GGML, systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, requireFull bool) bool
-	newServerFn     func(systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, model string, f *ggml.GGML, adapters []string, projectors []string, opts api.Options, numParallel int) (llm.LlamaServer, error)
+	newServerFn     func(systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, model string, f *ggml.GGML, adapters []string, projectors []string, opts api.Options, numParallel int, override *envconfig.Override) (llm.LlamaServer, error)
 	getGpuFn        func(ctx context.Context, runners []ml.FilteredRunnerDiscovery) []ml.DeviceInfo
 	getSystemInfoFn func() ml.SystemInfo
 	waitForRecovery time.Duration
@@ -414,7 +414,9 @@ func (s *Scheduler) load(req *LlmRequest, f *ggml.GGML, systemInfo ml.SystemInfo
 
 	if llama == nil {
 		var err error
-		llama, err = s.newServerFn(systemInfo, gpus, req.model.ModelPath, f, req.model.AdapterPaths, req.model.ProjectorPaths, req.opts, numParallel)
+		// Load per-model override (by short name)
+		override := envconfig.LoadOverride(req.model.ShortName)
+		llama, err = s.newServerFn(systemInfo, gpus, req.model.ModelPath, f, req.model.AdapterPaths, req.model.ProjectorPaths, req.opts, numParallel, override)
 		if err != nil {
 			// some older models are not compatible with newer versions of llama.cpp
 			// show a generalized compatibility error until there is a better way to
diff --git a/server/sched_test.go b/server/sched_test.go
index 480aafa4e..832ca47af 100644
--- a/server/sched_test.go
+++ b/server/sched_test.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/ollama/ollama/envconfig"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	"github.com/ollama/ollama/api"
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ func TestSchedLoad(t *testing.T) {
 		sessionDuration: &api.Duration{Duration: 2 * time.Second},
 	}
 	// Fail to load model first
-	s.newServerFn = func(systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, model string, f *ggml.GGML, adapters []string, projectors []string, opts api.Options, numParallel int) (llm.LlamaServer, error) {
+	s.newServerFn = func(systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, model string, f *ggml.GGML, adapters []string, projectors []string, opts api.Options, numParallel int, override *envconfig.Override) (llm.LlamaServer, error) {
 		return nil, errors.New("something failed to load model blah")
 	}
 	gpus := []ml.DeviceInfo{}
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ func TestSchedLoad(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Contains(t, err.Error(), "this model may be incompatible")
 
 	server := &mockLlm{vramSize: 10, vramByGPU: map[ml.DeviceID]uint64{}}
-	s.newServerFn = func(systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, model string, f *ggml.GGML, adapters []string, projectors []string, opts api.Options, numParallel int) (llm.LlamaServer, error) {
+	s.newServerFn = func(systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, model string, f *ggml.GGML, adapters []string, projectors []string, opts api.Options, numParallel int, override *envconfig.Override) (llm.LlamaServer, error) {
 		server.modelPath = model
 		return server, nil
 	}
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ type reqBundle struct {
 	f       *ggml.GGML
 }
 
-func (scenario *reqBundle) newServer(systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, model string, f *ggml.GGML, adapters []string, projectors []string, opts api.Options, numParallel int) (llm.LlamaServer, error) {
+func (scenario *reqBundle) newServer(systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, model string, f *ggml.GGML, adapters []string, projectors []string, opts api.Options, numParallel int, override *envconfig.Override) (llm.LlamaServer, error) {
 	scenario.srv.modelPath = model
 	return scenario.srv, nil
 }
@@ -466,7 +467,7 @@ func TestSchedExpireRunner(t *testing.T) {
 	gpus := []ml.DeviceInfo{}
 	systemInfo := ml.SystemInfo{}
 	server := &mockLlm{vramSize: 10, vramByGPU: map[ml.DeviceID]uint64{}}
-	s.newServerFn = func(systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, model string, f *ggml.GGML, adapters []string, projectors []string, opts api.Options, numParallel int) (llm.LlamaServer, error) {
+	s.newServerFn = func(systemInfo ml.SystemInfo, gpus []ml.DeviceInfo, model string, f *ggml.GGML, adapters []string, projectors []string, opts api.Options, numParallel int, override *envconfig.Override) (llm.LlamaServer, error) {
 		server.modelPath = model
 		return server, nil
 	}