diff --git a/cmd/cmd.go b/cmd/cmd.go
index abc970f63..00611a3d1 100644
--- a/cmd/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/cmd.go
@@ -367,14 +367,25 @@ func loadOrUnloadModel(cmd *cobra.Command, opts *runOptions) error {
 		return err
 	} else if info.RemoteHost != "" {
 		// Cloud model, no need to load/unload
+
+		isCloud := strings.HasPrefix(info.RemoteHost, "https://ollama.com")
+
+		// Check if user is signed in for ollama.com cloud models
+		if isCloud {
+			if _, err := client.Whoami(cmd.Context()); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+
 		if opts.ShowConnect {
 			p.StopAndClear()
-			if strings.HasPrefix(info.RemoteHost, "https://ollama.com") {
+			if isCloud {
 				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Connecting to '%s' on 'ollama.com' ⚡\n", info.RemoteModel)
 			} else {
 				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Connecting to '%s' on '%s'\n", info.RemoteModel, info.RemoteHost)
 			}
 		}
+
 		return nil
 	}
 
diff --git a/cmd/cmd_test.go b/cmd/cmd_test.go
index 433b2ab1b..7217c3d13 100644
--- a/cmd/cmd_test.go
+++ b/cmd/cmd_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package cmd
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
@@ -1659,3 +1660,103 @@ func TestRunOptions_Copy_Independence(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error("Copy Think should not be affected by original modification")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestLoadOrUnloadModel_CloudModelAuth(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name          string
+		remoteHost    string
+		whoamiStatus  int
+		whoamiResp    any
+		expectedError string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:         "ollama.com cloud model - user signed in",
+			remoteHost:   "https://ollama.com",
+			whoamiStatus: http.StatusOK,
+			whoamiResp:   api.UserResponse{Name: "testuser"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "ollama.com cloud model - user not signed in",
+			remoteHost:   "https://ollama.com",
+			whoamiStatus: http.StatusUnauthorized,
+			whoamiResp: map[string]string{
+				"error":      "unauthorized",
+				"signin_url": "https://ollama.com/signin",
+			},
+			expectedError: "unauthorized",
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "non-ollama.com remote - no auth check",
+			remoteHost:   "https://other-remote.com",
+			whoamiStatus: http.StatusUnauthorized, // should not be called
+			whoamiResp:   nil,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			whoamiCalled := false
+			mockServer := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+				switch r.URL.Path {
+				case "/api/show":
+					w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+					if err := json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(api.ShowResponse{
+						RemoteHost:  tt.remoteHost,
+						RemoteModel: "test-model",
+					}); err != nil {
+						http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+					}
+				case "/api/me":
+					whoamiCalled = true
+					w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+					w.WriteHeader(tt.whoamiStatus)
+					if tt.whoamiResp != nil {
+						if err := json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(tt.whoamiResp); err != nil {
+							http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+						}
+					}
+				default:
+					http.NotFound(w, r)
+				}
+			}))
+			defer mockServer.Close()
+
+			t.Setenv("OLLAMA_HOST", mockServer.URL)
+
+			cmd := &cobra.Command{}
+			cmd.SetContext(t.Context())
+
+			opts := &runOptions{
+				Model:       "test-cloud-model",
+				ShowConnect: false,
+			}
+
+			err := loadOrUnloadModel(cmd, opts)
+
+			if strings.HasPrefix(tt.remoteHost, "https://ollama.com") {
+				if !whoamiCalled {
+					t.Error("expected whoami to be called for ollama.com cloud model")
+				}
+			} else {
+				if whoamiCalled {
+					t.Error("whoami should not be called for non-ollama.com remote")
+				}
+			}
+
+			if tt.expectedError != "" {
+				if err == nil {
+					t.Errorf("expected error containing %q, got nil", tt.expectedError)
+				} else {
+					var authErr api.AuthorizationError
+					if !errors.As(err, &authErr) {
+						t.Errorf("expected AuthorizationError, got %T: %v", err, err)
+					}
+				}
+			} else {
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Errorf("expected no error, got %v", err)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}