diff --git a/llama_cpp/llama.py b/llama_cpp/llama.py
index c5869ed..849e775 100644
--- a/llama_cpp/llama.py
+++ b/llama_cpp/llama.py
@@ -207,7 +207,6 @@ class Llama:
         n_ctx: int = 512,
         n_parts: int = -1,
         n_gpu_layers: int = 0,
-        tensor_split: list[float] = None,
         seed: int = 1337,
         f16_kv: bool = True,
         logits_all: bool = False,
@@ -221,6 +220,7 @@ class Llama:
         lora_base: Optional[str] = None,
         lora_path: Optional[str] = None,
         low_vram: bool = False,
+        tensor_split: Optional[List[float]] = None,
         verbose: bool = True,
     ):
         """Load a llama.cpp model from `model_path`.
@@ -241,6 +241,7 @@ class Llama:
             last_n_tokens_size: Maximum number of tokens to keep in the last_n_tokens deque.
             lora_base: Optional path to base model, useful if using a quantized base model and you want to apply LoRA to an f16 model.
             lora_path: Path to a LoRA file to apply to the model.
+            tensor_split: List of floats to split the model across multiple GPUs. If None, the model is not split.
             verbose: Print verbose output to stderr.
 
         Raises:
@@ -249,12 +250,6 @@ class Llama:
         Returns:
             A Llama instance.
         """
-        if tensor_split is None:
-            tensor_split = [0.0] * llama_cpp.LLAMA_MAX_DEVICES.value
-
-        #Type conversion and expand the list to the length of LLAMA_MAX_DEVICES
-        FloatArray = ctypes.c_float * llama_cpp.LLAMA_MAX_DEVICES.value
-        c_tensor_split = FloatArray(*tensor_split)
 
         self.verbose = verbose
         self.model_path = model_path
@@ -262,7 +257,6 @@ class Llama:
         self.params = llama_cpp.llama_context_default_params()
         self.params.n_ctx = n_ctx
         self.params.n_gpu_layers = n_gpu_layers
-        self.params.tensor_split = c_tensor_split
         self.params.seed = seed
         self.params.f16_kv = f16_kv
         self.params.logits_all = logits_all
@@ -272,6 +266,15 @@ class Llama:
         self.params.embedding = embedding
         self.params.low_vram = low_vram
 
+        self.tensor_split = tensor_split
+        self._c_tensor_split = None
+
+        if self.tensor_split is not None:
+            #Type conversion and expand the list to the length of LLAMA_MAX_DEVICES
+            FloatArray = ctypes.c_float * llama_cpp.LLAMA_MAX_DEVICES.value
+            self._c_tensor_split = FloatArray(*tensor_split) # keep a reference to the array so it is not gc'd
+            self.params.tensor_split = self._c_tensor_split
+
         self.last_n_tokens_size = last_n_tokens_size
         self.n_batch = min(n_ctx, n_batch)
 
@@ -1499,7 +1502,6 @@ class Llama:
             model_path=self.model_path,
             n_ctx=self.params.n_ctx,
             n_gpu_layers=self.params.n_gpu_layers,
-            tensor_split=self.params.tensor_split,
             seed=self.params.seed,
             f16_kv=self.params.f16_kv,
             logits_all=self.params.logits_all,
@@ -1513,6 +1515,7 @@ class Llama:
             n_threads=self.n_threads,
             lora_base=self.lora_base,
             lora_path=self.lora_path,
+            tensor_split=self.tensor_split,
             ### DEPRECATED ###
             n_parts=self.n_parts,
             ### DEPRECATED ###
@@ -1524,7 +1527,6 @@ class Llama:
             n_ctx=state["n_ctx"],
             n_parts=state["n_parts"],
             n_gpu_layers=state["n_gpu_layers"],
-            tensor_split=state["tensor_split"],
             seed=state["seed"],
             f16_kv=state["f16_kv"],
             logits_all=state["logits_all"],
@@ -1538,6 +1540,7 @@ class Llama:
             last_n_tokens_size=state["last_n_tokens_size"],
             lora_base=state["lora_base"],
             lora_path=state["lora_path"],
+            tensor_split=state["tensor_split"],
             verbose=state["verbose"],
         )