diff --git a/mace/cli/run_train.py b/mace/cli/run_train.py
index d627e859..eaf8cdbd 100644
--- a/mace/cli/run_train.py
+++ b/mace/cli/run_train.py
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ def run(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
         args.loss = "universal"
         if (
             args.foundation_model in ["small", "medium", "large"]
-            or args.pt_train_file is None
+            or args.pt_train_file == "mp"
         ):
             logging.info(
                 "Using foundation model for multiheads finetuning with Materials Project data"