diff --git a/depth_estimation_node.py b/depth_estimation_node.py
index ea3c027..745c4f1 100644
--- a/depth_estimation_node.py
+++ b/depth_estimation_node.py
@@ -91,13 +91,13 @@ class DepthEstimationNode:
     
     def ensure_model_loaded(self, model_name: str) -> None:
         """
-        Ensures the correct model is loaded with proper VRAM management.
+        Ensures the correct model is loaded with proper VRAM management and fallback options.
         
         Args:
             model_name: The name of the model to load
         
         Raises:
-            RuntimeError: If the model fails to load
+            RuntimeError: If the model fails to load after all fallback attempts
         """
         try:
             if model_name not in DEPTH_MODELS:
@@ -105,9 +105,11 @@ class DepthEstimationNode:
                 
             model_path = DEPTH_MODELS[model_name]
             
+            # Only reload if needed
             if self.depth_estimator is None or self.current_model != model_path:
                 self.cleanup()
                 
+                # Set up device
                 if self.device is None:
                     self.device = get_torch_device()
                 
@@ -119,24 +121,83 @@ class DepthEstimationNode:
                 # Use FP16 for CUDA devices to save VRAM
                 dtype = torch.float16 if 'cuda' in str(self.device) else torch.float32
                 
-                # Check available VRAM before loading
-                if torch.cuda.is_available():
-                    free_vram = get_free_memory(self.device)
-                    logger.info(f"Available VRAM before loading: {free_vram / (1024**3):.2f} GB")
+                # Create a dedicated cache directory for this model
+                cache_dir = os.path.join(MODELS_DIR, model_name.replace("-", "_").lower())
+                os.makedirs(cache_dir, exist_ok=True)
                 
-                self.depth_estimator = pipeline(
-                    "depth-estimation",
-                    model=model_path,
-                    device_map=device_type,
-                    torch_dtype=dtype
-                )
+                # List of model paths to try (original and fallback)
+                model_paths_to_try = [
+                    model_path,  # Original path
+                    model_path + "-hf",  # Try with -hf suffix
+                    model_path.replace("depth-anything", "depth-anything-hf")  # Alternative format
+                ]
+                
+                # Try each model path
+                success = False
+                last_error = None
+                
+                for path in model_paths_to_try:
+                    try:
+                        logger.info(f"Attempting to load from: {path}")
+                        
+                        # Try with online mode first
+                        try:
+                            self.depth_estimator = pipeline(
+                                "depth-estimation",
+                                model=path,
+                                cache_dir=cache_dir,
+                                local_files_only=False,  # Try online first
+                                device_map=device_type,
+                                torch_dtype=dtype
+                            )
+                            success = True
+                            logger.info(f"Successfully loaded model from {path}")
+                            break
+                        except Exception as online_error:
+                            logger.warning(f"Online loading failed for {path}: {str(online_error)}")
+                            
+                            # Try with local_files_only if online fails
+                            try:
+                                self.depth_estimator = pipeline(
+                                    "depth-estimation",
+                                    model=path,
+                                    cache_dir=cache_dir,
+                                    local_files_only=True,  # Try local only as fallback
+                                    device_map=device_type,
+                                    torch_dtype=dtype
+                                )
+                                success = True
+                                logger.info(f"Successfully loaded model from local cache: {path}")
+                                break
+                            except Exception as local_error:
+                                last_error = local_error
+                                logger.warning(f"Local loading failed for {path}: {str(local_error)}")
+                                continue
+                                
+                    except Exception as path_error:
+                        last_error = path_error
+                        logger.warning(f"Failed to load model from {path}: {str(path_error)}")
+                        continue
+                
+                if not success:
+                    # If all attempts failed, show helpful message with instructions
+                    error_msg = f"""
+    Failed to load model {model_name} after trying multiple sources.
+    Last error: {str(last_error)}
+    
+    Try these solutions:
+    1. Run 'huggingface-cli login' in your terminal to authenticate
+    2. Check your internet connection
+    3. Try a different model version (e.g. Depth-Anything-V2-Small instead of Depth-Anything-Small)
+    """
+                    logger.error(error_msg)
+                    raise RuntimeError(error_msg)
                 
                 # Ensure model is on the correct device
                 if hasattr(self.depth_estimator, 'model'):
                     self.depth_estimator.model = self.depth_estimator.model.to(self.device)
                 
                 self.current_model = model_path
-                logger.info(f"Successfully loaded {model_name}")
                 
         except Exception as e:
             self.cleanup()