diff --git a/whisperx/asr.py b/whisperx/asr.py
index 1734fb9..3b86634 100644
--- a/whisperx/asr.py
+++ b/whisperx/asr.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def load_model(whisper_arch,
                asr_options=None,
                language : Optional[str] = None,
                vad_options=None,
-               model=None,
+               model : Optional[WhisperModel] = None,
                task="transcribe",
                download_root=None,
                threads=4):
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ def load_model(whisper_arch,
         compute_type: str - The compute type to use for the model.
         options: dict - A dictionary of options to use for the model.
         language: str - The language of the model. (use English for now)
+        model: Optional[WhisperModel] - The WhisperModel instance to use.
         download_root: Optional[str] - The root directory to download the model to.
         threads: int - The number of cpu threads to use per worker, e.g. will be multiplied by num workers.
     Returns:
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ def load_model(whisper_arch,
     if whisper_arch.endswith(".en"):
         language = "en"
 
-    model = WhisperModel(whisper_arch,
+    model = model or WhisperModel(whisper_arch,
                          device=device,
                          device_index=device_index,
                          compute_type=compute_type,