diff --git a/clarifai/runners/models/model_run_locally.py b/clarifai/runners/models/model_run_locally.py
index 471c0fa..9adfc64 100644
--- a/clarifai/runners/models/model_run_locally.py
+++ b/clarifai/runners/models/model_run_locally.py
@@ -22,8 +22,6 @@ class ModelRunLocally:
   def __init__(self, model_path):
     self.model_path = model_path
     self.requirements_file = os.path.join(self.model_path, "requirements.txt")
-    self.venv_dir, self.temp_dir = self.create_temp_venv()
-    self.python_executable = os.path.join(self.venv_dir, "bin", "python")
 
   def create_temp_venv(self):
     """Create a temporary virtual environment."""
@@ -32,6 +30,10 @@ def create_temp_venv(self):
     venv_dir = os.path.join(temp_dir, "venv")
     venv.create(venv_dir, with_pip=True)
 
+    self.venv_dir = venv_dir
+    self.temp_dir = temp_dir
+    self.python_executable = os.path.join(venv_dir, "bin", "python")
+
     logger.info(f"Created temporary virtual environment at {venv_dir}")
     return venv_dir, temp_dir
 
@@ -125,7 +127,6 @@ def _run_test(self):
         nodepool_id="n/a",
         compute_cluster_id="n/a",
     )
-    runner.load_model()
 
     # send an inference.
     response = self._run_model_inference(runner)
@@ -182,6 +183,7 @@ def main():
 
   model_path = args.model_path
   manager = ModelRunLocally(model_path)
+  manager.create_temp_venv()
 
   try:
     manager.install_requirements()
diff --git a/clarifai/runners/models/model_upload.py b/clarifai/runners/models/model_upload.py
index 4a7e083..066544e 100644
--- a/clarifai/runners/models/model_upload.py
+++ b/clarifai/runners/models/model_upload.py
@@ -202,14 +202,15 @@ def tar_file(self):
 
   def download_checkpoints(self):
     repo_id, hf_token = self._validate_config_checkpoints()
-    if repo_id and hf_token:
-      loader = HuggingFaceLoader(repo_id=repo_id, token=hf_token)
-      success = loader.download_checkpoints(self.checkpoint_path)
 
-      if not success:
-        logger.error(f"Failed to download checkpoints for model {repo_id}")
-        return
+    loader = HuggingFaceLoader(repo_id=repo_id, token=hf_token)
+    success = loader.download_checkpoints(self.checkpoint_path)
+
+    if not success:
+      logger.error(f"Failed to download checkpoints for model {repo_id}")
+    else:
       logger.info(f"Downloaded checkpoints for model {repo_id}")
+    return success
 
   def _concepts_protos_from_concepts(self, concepts):
     concept_protos = []
@@ -245,15 +246,23 @@ def get_model_version_proto(self):
     model_type_id = self.config.get('model').get('model_type_id')
     if model_type_id in self.CONCEPTS_REQUIRED_MODEL_TYPE:
 
-      labels = HuggingFaceLoader.fetch_labels(self.checkpoint_path)
-      # sort the concepts by id and then update the config file
-      labels = sorted(labels.items(), key=lambda x: int(x[0]))
+      if 'concepts' in self.config:
+        labels = self.config.get('concepts')
+        logger.info(f"Found {len(labels)} concepts in the config file.")
+        for concept in labels:
+          concept_proto = json_format.ParseDict(concept, resources_pb2.Concept())
+          model_version_proto.output_info.data.concepts.append(concept_proto)
+      else:
+        labels = HuggingFaceLoader.fetch_labels(self.checkpoint_path)
+        logger.info(f"Found {len(labels)} concepts from the model checkpoints.")
+        # sort the concepts by id and then update the config file
+        labels = sorted(labels.items(), key=lambda x: int(x[0]))
 
-      config_file = os.path.join(self.folder, 'config.yaml')
-      self.hf_labels_to_config(labels, config_file)
+        config_file = os.path.join(self.folder, 'config.yaml')
+        self.hf_labels_to_config(labels, config_file)
 
-      model_version_proto.output_info.data.concepts.extend(
-          self._concepts_protos_from_concepts(labels))
+        model_version_proto.output_info.data.concepts.extend(
+            self._concepts_protos_from_concepts(labels))
     return model_version_proto
 
   def upload_model_version(self, download_checkpoints):