diff --git a/TTS/api.py b/TTS/api.py
index 0ae515fa..b3aa531b 100644
--- a/TTS/api.py
+++ b/TTS/api.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class TTS(nn.Module):
         if gpu:
             warnings.warn("`gpu` will be deprecated. Please use `tts.to(device)` instead.")
 
-        if model_name is not None:
+        if model_name is not None and len(model_name) > 0:
             if "tts_models" in model_name or "coqui_studio" in model_name:
                 self.load_tts_model_by_name(model_name, gpu)
             elif "voice_conversion_models" in model_name: