diff --git a/gpt4all-chat/chatllm.cpp b/gpt4all-chat/chatllm.cpp
index 89505ef7c293..e54301c8622e 100644
--- a/gpt4all-chat/chatllm.cpp
+++ b/gpt4all-chat/chatllm.cpp
@@ -350,6 +350,7 @@ bool ChatLLM::loadModel(const ModelInfo &modelInfo)
                 }
 
                 m_llModelInfo.model->setProgressCallback([this](float progress) -> bool {
+                    progress = std::max(progress, std::numeric_limits<float>::min()); // keep progress above zero
                     emit modelLoadingPercentageChanged(progress);
                     return m_shouldBeLoaded;
                 });