diff --git a/TTS/tts/models/__init__.py b/TTS/tts/models/__init__.py
index c6390beb..8c1bd430 100644
--- a/TTS/tts/models/__init__.py
+++ b/TTS/tts/models/__init__.py
@@ -4,20 +4,23 @@ from TTS.utils.generic_utils import find_module
 
 def setup_model(config):
     print(" > Using model: {}".format(config.model))
-
     MyModel = find_module("TTS.tts.models", config.model.lower())
     # define set of characters used by the model
     if config.characters is not None:
         # set characters from config
-        symbols, phonemes = make_symbols(**config.characters.to_dict())  # pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+        if hasattr(MyModel, "make_symbols"):
+            symbols = MyModel.make_symbols(config)
+        else:
+            symbols, phonemes = make_symbols(**config.characters)
     else:
         from TTS.tts.utils.text.symbols import phonemes, symbols  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
 
+        if config.use_phonemes:
+            symbols = phonemes
         # use default characters and assign them to config
         config.characters = parse_symbols()
-    num_chars = len(phonemes) if config.use_phonemes else len(symbols)
     # consider special `blank` character if `add_blank` is set True
-    num_chars = num_chars + getattr(config, "add_blank", False)
+    num_chars = len(symbols) + getattr(config, "add_blank", False)
     config.num_chars = num_chars
     # compatibility fix
     if "model_params" in config: