diff --git a/pkg/model/initializers.go b/pkg/model/initializers.go
index cf34541a..eb3e4fdf 100644
--- a/pkg/model/initializers.go
+++ b/pkg/model/initializers.go
@@ -404,6 +404,7 @@ func (ml *ModelLoader) grpcModel(backend string, autodetect bool, o *Options) fu
 		}
 
 		log.Debug().Msgf("Wait for the service to start up")
+		log.Debug().Msgf("Options: %+v", o.gRPCOptions)
 
 		// Wait for the service to start up
 		ready := false
@@ -468,12 +469,15 @@ func (ml *ModelLoader) backendLoader(opts ...Option) (client grpc.Backend, err e
 
 	backend := strings.ToLower(o.backendString)
 	if realBackend, exists := Aliases[backend]; exists {
-		backend = realBackend
 		typeAlias, exists := TypeAlias[backend]
 		if exists {
+			log.Debug().Msgf("'%s' is a type alias of '%s' (%s)", backend, realBackend, typeAlias)
 			o.gRPCOptions.Type = typeAlias
+		} else {
+			log.Debug().Msgf("'%s' is an alias of '%s'", backend, realBackend)
 		}
-		log.Debug().Msgf("%s is an alias of %s", backend, realBackend)
+
+		backend = realBackend
 	}
 
 	ml.stopActiveBackends(o.modelID, o.singleActiveBackend)