diff --git a/cmd/cmd.go b/cmd/cmd.go
index fda70b8b..693d0cab 100644
--- a/cmd/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/cmd.go
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/jmorganca/ollama/api"
 	"github.com/jmorganca/ollama/format"
-	"github.com/jmorganca/ollama/parser"
 	"github.com/jmorganca/ollama/progressbar"
 	"github.com/jmorganca/ollama/server"
 )
@@ -37,24 +36,6 @@ func CreateHandler(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 
 	var spinner *Spinner
 
-	// pull the model file if needed
-	mf, err := os.Open(filename)
-	defer mf.Close()
-	cmds, err := parser.Parse(mf)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	mf.Close()
-	for _, c := range cmds {
-		if c.Name == "model" {
-			// check if the model file needs to be pulled
-			checkPull(c.Args)
-		}
-	}
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	request := api.CreateRequest{Name: args[0], Path: filename}
 	fn := func(resp api.CreateProgress) error {
 		if spinner != nil {
@@ -78,8 +59,8 @@ func CreateHandler(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func checkPull(model string) error {
-	mp := server.ParseModelPath(model)
+func RunHandler(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	mp := server.ParseModelPath(args[0])
 	fp, err := mp.GetManifestPath(false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -88,7 +69,7 @@ func checkPull(model string) error {
 	_, err = os.Stat(fp)
 	switch {
 	case errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist):
-		if err := pull(model, false); err != nil {
+		if err := pull(args[0], false); err != nil {
 			var apiStatusError api.StatusError
 			if !errors.As(err, &apiStatusError) {
 				return err
@@ -102,13 +83,6 @@ func checkPull(model string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return nil
-}
-
-func RunHandler(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-	if err := checkPull(args[0]); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 	return RunGenerate(cmd, args)
 }