diff --git a/initialize.py b/initialize.py
index 20ce69bbc..1b01baa30 100644
--- a/initialize.py
+++ b/initialize.py
@@ -145,6 +145,10 @@ def initialize_job_loop():
     from python.helpers.job_loop import run_loop
     return defer.DeferredTask("JobLoop").start_task(run_loop)
 
+def initialize_preload():
+    import preload
+    return defer.DeferredTask().start_task(preload.preload)
+
 
 def _args_override(config):
     # update config with runtime args
diff --git a/preload.py b/preload.py
index 22c48f234..99625d51b 100644
--- a/preload.py
+++ b/preload.py
@@ -4,9 +4,6 @@ from python.helpers.print_style import PrintStyle
 from python.helpers import kokoro_tts
 import models
 
-PrintStyle().print("Running preload...")
-runtime.initialize()
-
 
 async def preload():
     try:
@@ -34,10 +31,11 @@ async def preload():
 
         # preload kokoro tts model if enabled
         async def preload_kokoro():
-            try:
-                return await kokoro_tts.preload()
-            except Exception as e:
-                PrintStyle().error(f"Error in preload_kokoro: {e}")
+            if set["tts_kokoro"]:
+                try:
+                    return await kokoro_tts.preload()
+                except Exception as e:
+                    PrintStyle().error(f"Error in preload_kokoro: {e}")
 
         # async tasks to preload
         tasks = [
@@ -53,4 +51,7 @@ async def preload():
 
 
 # preload transcription model
-asyncio.run(preload())
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    PrintStyle().print("Running preload...")
+    runtime.initialize()
+    asyncio.run(preload())
diff --git a/run_ui.py b/run_ui.py
index e46746f3b..e6c3de72a 100644
--- a/run_ui.py
+++ b/run_ui.py
@@ -249,6 +249,8 @@ def init_a0():
     initialize.initialize_mcp()
     # start job loop
     initialize.initialize_job_loop()
+    # preload
+    initialize.initialize_preload()
 
     # only wait for init chats, otherwise they would seem to dissapear for a while on restart
     init_chats.result_sync()