diff --git a/nemoguardrails/llm/prompts.py b/nemoguardrails/llm/prompts.py
index 8f00b2b55..1f407a17a 100644
--- a/nemoguardrails/llm/prompts.py
+++ b/nemoguardrails/llm/prompts.py
@@ -134,6 +134,17 @@ def get_task_model(config: RailsConfig, task: Union[str, Task]) -> Optional[Mode
     # Fetch current task parameters like name, models to use, and the prompting mode
     task_name = str(task.value) if isinstance(task, Task) else task
 
+    # Check if the task name contains a model specification (e.g., "content_safety_check_input $model=content_safety")
+    if "$model=" in task_name:
+        # Extract the model type from the task name
+        model_type = task_name.split("$model=")[-1].strip()
+        # Look for a model with this specific type
+        if config.models:
+            _models = [model for model in config.models if model.type == model_type]
+            if _models:
+                return _models[0]
+
+    # If no model specification or no matching model found, fall back to the original logic
     if config.models:
         _models = [model for model in config.models if model.type == task_name]
         if not _models:
diff --git a/tests/test_llm_task_manager.py b/tests/test_llm_task_manager.py
index 7897e55b6..8443bcc8a 100644
--- a/tests/test_llm_task_manager.py
+++ b/tests/test_llm_task_manager.py
@@ -532,3 +532,37 @@ def test_get_task_model_fallback_to_main():
     result = get_task_model(config, "some_other_task")
     assert result is not None
     assert result.type == "main"
+
+
+def test_get_task_model_with_model_specification():
+    """Test that get_task_model correctly extracts model type from task names with $model= specification."""
+    config = RailsConfig.parse_object(
+        {
+            "models": [
+                {
+                    "type": "main",
+                    "engine": "openai",
+                    "model": "gpt-3.5-turbo",
+                },
+                {
+                    "type": "content_safety",
+                    "engine": "openai",
+                    "model": "gpt-4",
+                },
+            ]
+        }
+    )
+
+    # Test with a task name that contains $model= specification
+    result = get_task_model(config, "content_safety_check_input $model=content_safety")
+    assert result is not None
+    assert result.type == "content_safety"
+    assert result.engine == "openai"
+    assert result.model == "gpt-4"
+
+    # Test fallback to main model when specified model type doesn't exist
+    result = get_task_model(config, "unknown_task $model=nonexistent")
+    assert result is not None
+    assert result.type == "main"
+    assert result.engine == "openai"
+    assert result.model == "gpt-3.5-turbo"