diff --git a/llama_stack/providers/inline/inference/meta_reference/config.py b/llama_stack/providers/inline/inference/meta_reference/config.py
index 11648b117..4713e7f99 100644
--- a/llama_stack/providers/inline/inference/meta_reference/config.py
+++ b/llama_stack/providers/inline/inference/meta_reference/config.py
@@ -37,8 +37,10 @@ class MetaReferenceInferenceConfig(BaseModel):
     @classmethod
     def validate_model(cls, model: str) -> str:
         permitted_models = supported_inference_models()
-        if model not in permitted_models:
-            model_list = "\n\t".join(permitted_models)
+        descriptors = [m.descriptor() for m in permitted_models]
+        repos = [m.huggingface_repo for m in permitted_models]
+        if model not in (descriptors + repos):
+            model_list = "\n\t".join(repos)
             raise ValueError(
                 f"Unknown model: `{model}`. Choose from [\n\t{model_list}\n]"
             )
diff --git a/llama_stack/providers/inline/inference/vllm/config.py b/llama_stack/providers/inline/inference/vllm/config.py
index e5516673c..8a95298f4 100644
--- a/llama_stack/providers/inline/inference/vllm/config.py
+++ b/llama_stack/providers/inline/inference/vllm/config.py
@@ -48,8 +48,11 @@ class VLLMConfig(BaseModel):
     @classmethod
     def validate_model(cls, model: str) -> str:
         permitted_models = supported_inference_models()
-        if model not in permitted_models:
-            model_list = "\n\t".join(permitted_models)
+
+        descriptors = [m.descriptor() for m in permitted_models]
+        repos = [m.huggingface_repo for m in permitted_models]
+        if model not in (descriptors + repos):
+            model_list = "\n\t".join(repos)
             raise ValueError(
                 f"Unknown model: `{model}`. Choose from [\n\t{model_list}\n]"
             )
diff --git a/llama_stack/providers/tests/inference/test_model_registration.py b/llama_stack/providers/tests/inference/test_model_registration.py
index 07100c982..1471bc369 100644
--- a/llama_stack/providers/tests/inference/test_model_registration.py
+++ b/llama_stack/providers/tests/inference/test_model_registration.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import pytest
 #
 # pytest -v -s llama_stack/providers/tests/inference/test_model_registration.py
 #   -m "meta_reference"
-#   --env TOGETHER_API_KEY=<your_api_key>
 
 
 class TestModelRegistration:
diff --git a/llama_stack/providers/utils/inference/__init__.py b/llama_stack/providers/utils/inference/__init__.py
index 7d268ed38..d204f98a4 100644
--- a/llama_stack/providers/utils/inference/__init__.py
+++ b/llama_stack/providers/utils/inference/__init__.py
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ def is_supported_safety_model(model: Model) -> bool:
     ]
 
 
-def supported_inference_models() -> List[str]:
+def supported_inference_models() -> List[Model]:
     return [
-        m.descriptor()
+        m
         for m in all_registered_models()
         if (
             m.model_family in {ModelFamily.llama3_1, ModelFamily.llama3_2}
diff --git a/llama_stack/providers/utils/inference/prompt_adapter.py b/llama_stack/providers/utils/inference/prompt_adapter.py
index 2df04664f..6e4d0752e 100644
--- a/llama_stack/providers/utils/inference/prompt_adapter.py
+++ b/llama_stack/providers/utils/inference/prompt_adapter.py
@@ -178,7 +178,9 @@ def chat_completion_request_to_messages(
         cprint(f"Could not resolve model {llama_model}", color="red")
         return request.messages
 
-    if model.descriptor() not in supported_inference_models():
+    allowed_models = supported_inference_models()
+    descriptors = [m.descriptor() for m in allowed_models]
+    if model.descriptor() not in descriptors:
         cprint(f"Unsupported inference model? {model.descriptor()}", color="red")
         return request.messages