diff --git a/backend/open_webui/config.py b/backend/open_webui/config.py
index dfa3808b0c..3cfb4ce21d 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/config.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/config.py
@@ -1311,10 +1311,16 @@ MODEL_ORDER_LIST = PersistentConfig(
     [],
 )
 
+try:
+    default_model_metadata = json.loads(os.environ.get('DEFAULT_MODEL_METADATA', '{}'))
+except Exception as e:
+    log.exception(f'Error loading DEFAULT_MODEL_METADATA: {e}')
+    default_model_metadata = {}
+
 DEFAULT_MODEL_METADATA = PersistentConfig(
     'DEFAULT_MODEL_METADATA',
     'models.default_metadata',
-    {},
+    default_model_metadata,
 )
 
 try: