diff --git a/api/ollama_patch.py b/api/ollama_patch.py
index bb6a77294..cc04b7317 100644
--- a/api/ollama_patch.py
+++ b/api/ollama_patch.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import logging
-import requests
+
 import os
 
 # Configure logging
@@ -23,30 +23,25 @@ def check_ollama_model_exists(model_name: str, ollama_host: str = None) -> bool:
     Returns:
         bool: True if model exists, False otherwise
     """
+    import ollama
+    import httpx
     if ollama_host is None:
         ollama_host = os.getenv("OLLAMA_HOST", "http://localhost:11434")
-    
     try:
         # Remove /api prefix if present and add it back
         if ollama_host.endswith('/api'):
             ollama_host = ollama_host[:-4]
-        
-        response = requests.get(f"{ollama_host}/api/tags", timeout=5)
-        if response.status_code == 200:
-            models_data = response.json()
-            available_models = [model.get('name', '').split(':')[0] for model in models_data.get('models', [])]
-            model_base_name = model_name.split(':')[0]  # Remove tag if present
-            
-            is_available = model_base_name in available_models
-            if is_available:
-                logger.info(f"Ollama model '{model_name}' is available")
-            else:
-                logger.warning(f"Ollama model '{model_name}' is not available. Available models: {available_models}")
-            return is_available
+        ret: ollama.ListResponse = ollama.Client(host=ollama_host, timeout=5).list()
+        is_available = any(model_name == model.model for model in ret.models)
+        if is_available:
+            logger.info("Ollama model '%s' is available", model_name)
         else:
-            logger.warning(f"Could not check Ollama models, status code: {response.status_code}")
-            return False
-    except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
+            logger.warning(
+                "Ollama model '%s' is not available. Available models: %s. ",
+                model_name,
+                str([model.model for model in ret.models]))
+        return is_available
+    except (httpx.ConnectTimeout, ConnectionError) as e:
         logger.warning(f"Could not connect to Ollama to check models: {e}")
         return False
     except Exception as e: