diff --git a/operate/config.py b/operate/config.py
index b97b20ac..bcadb45b 100644
--- a/operate/config.py
+++ b/operate/config.py
@@ -85,15 +85,15 @@ def initialize_google(self):
     def initialize_ollama(self):
         if self.ollama_host:
             if self.verbose:
-                print("[Config][initialize_ollama] using cached ollama host")
+                print("[Config][initialize_ollama] using ollama host", self.ollama_host)
         else:
             if self.verbose:
                 print(
                     "[Config][initialize_ollama] no cached ollama host. Assuming ollama running locally."
                 )
-            self.ollama_host = os.getenv("OLLAMA_HOST", None)
-        model = Client(host=self.ollama_host)
-        return model
+            self.ollama_host = os.getenv("OLLAMA_HOST", "http://localhost:11434")
+        client = Client(host=self.ollama_host)
+        return client
 
     def initialize_anthropic(self):
         if self.anthropic_api_key:
diff --git a/operate/models/apis.py b/operate/models/apis.py
index d0ccb0c4..96fc890f 100644
--- a/operate/models/apis.py
+++ b/operate/models/apis.py
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ def call_ollama_llava(messages):
         print("[call_ollama_llava]")
     time.sleep(1)
     try:
-        model = config.initialize_ollama()
+        client = config.initialize_ollama()
         screenshots_dir = "screenshots"
         if not os.path.exists(screenshots_dir):
             os.makedirs(screenshots_dir)
@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ def call_ollama_llava(messages):
         }
         messages.append(vision_message)
 
-        response = model.chat(
+        response = client.chat(
             model="llava",
             messages=messages,
         )