diff --git a/src/lib/components/chat/Settings/Interface.svelte b/src/lib/components/chat/Settings/Interface.svelte
index 5af33888a..e6eefaefc 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/chat/Settings/Interface.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/chat/Settings/Interface.svelte
@@ -144,7 +144,10 @@
 		chatDirection = $settings.chatDirection ?? 'LTR';
 		userLocation = $settings.userLocation ?? false;
 
-		defaultModelId = ($settings?.models ?? ['']).at(0);
+		defaultModelId = $settings?.models?.at(0) ?? '';
+		if ($config?.default_models) {
+			defaultModelId = $config.default_models.split(',')[0];
+		}
 
 		backgroundImageUrl = $settings.backgroundImageUrl ?? null;
 	});
diff --git a/src/lib/stores/index.ts b/src/lib/stores/index.ts
index de83a8ef6..bf8fb20c7 100644
--- a/src/lib/stores/index.ts
+++ b/src/lib/stores/index.ts
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ type Config = {
 	name: string;
 	version: string;
 	default_locale: string;
-	default_models: string[];
+	default_models: string;
 	default_prompt_suggestions: PromptSuggestion[];
 	features: {
 		auth: boolean;