diff --git a/ml/backend.go b/ml/backend.go
index c63c73d46..66eb37f78 100644
--- a/ml/backend.go
+++ b/ml/backend.go
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ type CacheConfig struct {
 
 // BackendParams controls how the backend loads and executes models
 type BackendParams struct {
+	// Progress is a callback function that allows reporting percentage completion
+	// of model loading
+	Progress func(float32)
+
 	// NumThreads sets the number of threads to use if running on the CPU
 	NumThreads int
 
diff --git a/runner/ollamarunner/runner.go b/runner/ollamarunner/runner.go
index 443b34b05..90eb0de62 100644
--- a/runner/ollamarunner/runner.go
+++ b/runner/ollamarunner/runner.go
@@ -783,6 +783,9 @@ func Execute(args []string) error {
 	}
 
 	params := ml.BackendParams{
+		Progress: func(progress float32) {
+			server.progress = progress
+		},
 		NumThreads:     *threads,
 		NumGPULayers:   *numGPULayers,
 		MainGPU:        *mainGPU,