diff --git a/tests/basic/test_main.py b/tests/basic/test_main.py
index 1f0d467b5..9a2034be2 100644
--- a/tests/basic/test_main.py
+++ b/tests/basic/test_main.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import os
 import subprocess
 import tempfile
+import json
 from io import StringIO
 from pathlib import Path
 from unittest import TestCase
@@ -489,3 +490,22 @@ class TestMain(TestCase):
                 self.assertIn(real_external_file_path, coder.abs_read_only_fnames)
         finally:
             os.unlink(external_file_path)
+
+    def test_model_metadata_file(self):
+        with GitTemporaryDirectory():
+            metadata_file = Path(".aider.model.metadata.json")
+            metadata_content = {
+                "deepseek-chat": {
+                    "max_input_tokens": 1234
+                }
+            }
+            metadata_file.write_text(json.dumps(metadata_content))
+
+            coder = main(
+                ["--model", "deepseek-chat", "--model-metadata-file", str(metadata_file), "--exit", "--yes"],
+                input=DummyInput(),
+                output=DummyOutput(),
+                return_coder=True,
+            )
+
+            self.assertEqual(coder.main_model.info["max_input_tokens"], 1234)