diff --git a/server/sched.go b/server/sched.go
index 3c7ab66e..0a6738a2 100644
--- a/server/sched.go
+++ b/server/sched.go
@@ -149,6 +149,14 @@ func (s *Scheduler) processPending(ctx context.Context) {
 						break
 					}
 
+					// If we're CPU only mode, just limit by loadedMax above
+					// TODO handle system memory exhaustion
+					if (len(gpus) == 1 && gpus[0].Library == "cpu") || pending.opts.NumGPU == 0 {
+						slog.Debug("cpu mode with existing models, loading")
+						s.loadFn(pending, ggml, gpus)
+						break
+					}
+
 					// No models loaded. Load the model but prefer the best fit.
 					if loadedCount == 0 {
 						slog.Debug("loading first model", "model", pending.model.ModelPath)
diff --git a/server/sched_test.go b/server/sched_test.go
index 86bd7846..32a80674 100644
--- a/server/sched_test.go
+++ b/server/sched_test.go
@@ -28,19 +28,33 @@ func TestInitScheduler(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx, done := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	defer done()
 	initialMax := loadedMax
+	initialParallel := numParallel
 	s := InitScheduler(ctx)
 	require.Equal(t, initialMax, loadedMax)
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
 	require.NotNil(t, s.loaded)
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
 
 	os.Setenv("OLLAMA_MAX_LOADED_MODELS", "blue")
 	s = InitScheduler(ctx)
 	require.Equal(t, initialMax, loadedMax)
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
 	require.NotNil(t, s.loaded)
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
 
 	os.Setenv("OLLAMA_MAX_LOADED_MODELS", "0")
 	s = InitScheduler(ctx)
 	require.Equal(t, 0, loadedMax)
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
 	require.NotNil(t, s.loaded)
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
+
+	os.Setenv("OLLAMA_NUM_PARALLEL", "blue")
+	_ = InitScheduler(ctx)
+	require.Equal(t, initialParallel, numParallel)
+	os.Setenv("OLLAMA_NUM_PARALLEL", "10")
+	_ = InitScheduler(ctx)
+	require.Equal(t, 10, numParallel)
 }
 
 func TestLoad(t *testing.T) {
@@ -51,6 +65,7 @@ func TestLoad(t *testing.T) {
 	req := &LlmRequest{
 		ctx:             ctx,
 		model:           &Model{ModelPath: "foo"},
+		opts:            api.DefaultOptions(),
 		successCh:       make(chan *runnerRef, 1),
 		errCh:           make(chan error, 1),
 		sessionDuration: 2,
@@ -63,7 +78,9 @@ func TestLoad(t *testing.T) {
 	s.load(req, ggml, gpus)
 	require.Len(t, req.successCh, 0)
 	require.Len(t, req.errCh, 1)
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
 	require.Len(t, s.loaded, 0)
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
 	err := <-req.errCh
 	require.Contains(t, err.Error(), "this model may be incompatible")
 
@@ -78,7 +95,9 @@ func TestLoad(t *testing.T) {
 	case resp := <-req.successCh:
 		require.Equal(t, uint64(10), resp.estimatedVRAM)
 		require.Equal(t, uint(1), resp.refCount)
+		s.loadedMu.Lock()
 		require.Len(t, s.loaded, 1)
+		s.loadedMu.Unlock()
 	}
 
 	req.model.ModelPath = "dummy_model_path"
@@ -90,7 +109,9 @@ func TestLoad(t *testing.T) {
 	case resp := <-req.successCh:
 		t.Errorf("unexpected success %v", resp)
 	}
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
 	runner := s.loaded["dummy_model_path"]
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
 	require.NotNil(t, runner)
 	require.Equal(t, uint(0), runner.refCount)
 	time.Sleep(1 * time.Millisecond)
@@ -143,6 +164,7 @@ func newScenario(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, modelName string, estimatedV
 	scenario.req = &LlmRequest{
 		ctx:             scenario.ctx,
 		model:           model,
+		opts:            api.DefaultOptions(),
 		sessionDuration: 5 * time.Millisecond,
 		successCh:       make(chan *runnerRef, 1),
 		errCh:           make(chan error, 1),
@@ -171,7 +193,9 @@ func TestRequests(t *testing.T) {
 	// Multiple loaded models
 	scenario3a := newScenario(t, ctx, "ollama-model-3a", 1*format.GigaByte)
 	scenario3b := newScenario(t, ctx, "ollama-model-3b", 24*format.GigaByte)
-	scenario3c := newScenario(t, ctx, "ollama-model-3c", 30) // Needs prior unloaded
+	scenario3c := newScenario(t, ctx, "ollama-model-4a", 30)
+	scenario3c.req.opts.NumGPU = 0                           // CPU load, will be allowed
+	scenario3d := newScenario(t, ctx, "ollama-model-3c", 30) // Needs prior unloaded
 
 	s := InitScheduler(ctx)
 	s.getGpuFn = func() gpu.GpuInfoList {
@@ -240,7 +264,9 @@ func TestRequests(t *testing.T) {
 	case <-ctx.Done():
 		t.Errorf("timeout")
 	}
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
 	require.Len(t, s.loaded, 1)
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
 
 	loadedMax = 0
 	s.newServerFn = scenario3b.newServer
@@ -254,19 +280,14 @@ func TestRequests(t *testing.T) {
 	case <-ctx.Done():
 		t.Errorf("timeout")
 	}
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
 	require.Len(t, s.loaded, 2)
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
 
-	// Try to load a model that wont fit
+	// This is a CPU load with NumGPU = 0 so it should load
 	s.newServerFn = scenario3c.newServer
 	slog.Info("scenario3c")
-	require.Len(t, s.loaded, 2)
-	scenario3a.ctxDone() // Won't help since this one isn't big enough to make room
-	time.Sleep(2 * time.Millisecond)
 	s.pendingReqCh <- scenario3c.req
-	// finish prior request, so new model can load
-	time.Sleep(6 * time.Millisecond)
-	require.Len(t, s.loaded, 1)
-	scenario3b.ctxDone()
 	select {
 	case resp := <-scenario3c.req.successCh:
 		require.Equal(t, resp.llama, scenario3c.srv)
@@ -275,7 +296,36 @@ func TestRequests(t *testing.T) {
 	case <-ctx.Done():
 		t.Errorf("timeout")
 	}
-	require.Len(t, s.loaded, 1)
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
+	require.Len(t, s.loaded, 3)
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
+
+	// Try to load a model that wont fit
+	s.newServerFn = scenario3d.newServer
+	slog.Info("scenario3d")
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
+	require.Len(t, s.loaded, 3)
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
+	scenario3a.ctxDone() // Won't help since this one isn't big enough to make room
+	time.Sleep(2 * time.Millisecond)
+	s.pendingReqCh <- scenario3d.req
+	// finish prior request, so new model can load
+	time.Sleep(6 * time.Millisecond)
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
+	require.Len(t, s.loaded, 2)
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
+	scenario3b.ctxDone()
+	select {
+	case resp := <-scenario3d.req.successCh:
+		require.Equal(t, resp.llama, scenario3d.srv)
+		require.Len(t, s.pendingReqCh, 0)
+		require.Len(t, scenario3d.req.errCh, 0)
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		t.Errorf("timeout")
+	}
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
+	require.Len(t, s.loaded, 2)
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
 }
 
 func TestGetRunner(t *testing.T) {
@@ -318,7 +368,9 @@ func TestGetRunner(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("timeout")
 	}
 	scenario1a.ctxDone()
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
 	require.Len(t, s.loaded, 1)
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
 
 	scenario1c.req.model.ModelPath = "bad path"
 	slog.Info("scenario1c")
@@ -328,7 +380,9 @@ func TestGetRunner(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Len(t, errCh1c, 0)
 
 	time.Sleep(5 * time.Millisecond)
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
 	require.Len(t, s.loaded, 0)
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
 	require.Len(t, errCh1c, 1)
 	err = <-errCh1c
 	require.Contains(t, err.Error(), "bad path")
@@ -358,7 +412,9 @@ func TestPrematureExpired(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Equal(t, resp.llama, scenario1a.srv)
 		require.Len(t, s.pendingReqCh, 0)
 		require.Len(t, errCh1a, 0)
+		s.loadedMu.Lock()
 		require.Len(t, s.loaded, 1)
+		s.loadedMu.Unlock()
 		slog.Info("sending premature expired event now")
 		s.expiredCh <- resp // Shouldn't happen in real life, but make sure its safe
 	case <-ctx.Done():
@@ -383,6 +439,7 @@ func TestUseLoadedRunner(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx, done := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Millisecond)
 	req := &LlmRequest{
 		ctx:             ctx,
+		opts:            api.DefaultOptions(),
 		successCh:       make(chan *runnerRef, 1),
 		sessionDuration: 2,
 	}
@@ -426,8 +483,10 @@ func TestUpdateFreeSpace(t *testing.T) {
 	r2 := &runnerRef{llama: llm2, gpus: gpus}
 
 	s := InitScheduler(ctx)
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
 	s.loaded["a"] = r1
 	s.loaded["b"] = r2
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
 
 	s.updateFreeSpace(gpus)
 	require.Equal(t, uint64(850), gpus[0].FreeMemory)
@@ -437,13 +496,18 @@ func TestUpdateFreeSpace(t *testing.T) {
 func TestFindRunnerToUnload(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx, done := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Millisecond)
 	defer done()
-	req := &LlmRequest{ctx: ctx}
+	req := &LlmRequest{
+		ctx:  ctx,
+		opts: api.DefaultOptions(),
+	}
 	r1 := &runnerRef{refCount: 1, sessionDuration: 1}
 	r2 := &runnerRef{sessionDuration: 2}
 
 	s := InitScheduler(ctx)
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
 	s.loaded["a"] = r1
 	s.loaded["b"] = r2
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
 
 	resp := s.findRunnerToUnload(req)
 	require.Equal(t, r2, resp)
@@ -458,10 +522,11 @@ func TestNeedsReload(t *testing.T) {
 	defer done()
 
 	llm := &mockLlm{}
+	do := api.DefaultOptions()
 	runner := &runnerRef{
 		adapters:   []string{"adapter1"},
 		projectors: []string{"projector1"},
-		Options:    &api.Options{},
+		Options:    &do,
 		llama:      llm,
 	}
 	req := &LlmRequest{
@@ -469,7 +534,7 @@ func TestNeedsReload(t *testing.T) {
 			AdapterPaths:   []string{"adapter2"},
 			ProjectorPaths: []string{"projector2"},
 		},
-		opts: api.Options{},
+		opts: api.DefaultOptions(),
 	}
 	resp := runner.needsReload(ctx, req)
 	require.True(t, resp)
@@ -508,8 +573,10 @@ func TestUnloadAllRunners(t *testing.T) {
 	r1 := &runnerRef{llama: llm1}
 	r2 := &runnerRef{llama: llm2}
 
+	s.loadedMu.Lock()
 	s.loaded["a"] = r1
 	s.loaded["b"] = r2
+	s.loadedMu.Unlock()
 	s.unloadAllRunners()
 
 	require.True(t, llm1.closeCalled)