diff --git a/flagai/model/base_model.py b/flagai/model/base_model.py
index a9b3bed3..815cef4f 100755
--- a/flagai/model/base_model.py
+++ b/flagai/model/base_model.py
@@ -260,6 +260,7 @@ def download(cls,
             print("Model hub is not reachable!")
         # prepare the download path
         # downloading the files
+        print(f"Before model_id check: {locals()}") #added debugging print            
         if model_id and model_id != "null":
             model_files = eval(_get_model_files(model_name))
             print("model files:" + str(model_files))