diff --git a/src/lib/components/chat/Chat.svelte b/src/lib/components/chat/Chat.svelte
index 8939ff742..8940b5613 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/chat/Chat.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/chat/Chat.svelte
@@ -475,9 +475,13 @@
 			selectedModels = $config?.default_models.split(',');
 		}
 
-		if (selectedModels.length === 1 && selectedModels[0] === '') {
+		selectedModels = selectedModels.filter((modelId) => $models.map((m) => m.id).includes(modelId));
+
+		if (selectedModels.length === 0 || (selectedModels.length === 1 && selectedModels[0] === '')) {
 			if ($models.length > 0) {
 				selectedModels = [$models[0].id];
+			} else {
+				selectedModels = [''];
 			}
 		}