diff --git a/server/images.go b/server/images.go
index 5e4e88583..8a22c2f46 100644
--- a/server/images.go
+++ b/server/images.go
@@ -492,6 +492,12 @@ func CreateModel(ctx context.Context, name model.Name, modelFileDir, quantizatio
 				layers = append(layers, baseLayer.Layer)
 			}
 		case "license", "template", "system":
+			if c.Name == "template" {
+				if _, err := template.Parse(c.Args); err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+			}
+
 			if c.Name != "license" {
 				// replace
 				layers = slices.DeleteFunc(layers, func(layer *Layer) bool {