diff --git a/buzz/model_loader.py b/buzz/model_loader.py
index 163d39ab..2094e5b4 100644
--- a/buzz/model_loader.py
+++ b/buzz/model_loader.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ except ImportError:
 
 model_root_dir = user_cache_dir("Buzz")
 model_root_dir = os.path.join(model_root_dir, "models")
+model_root_dir = os.getenv("BUZZ_MODEL_ROOT", model_root_dir)
 os.makedirs(model_root_dir, exist_ok=True)
 
 logging.debug("Model root directory: %s", model_root_dir)
@@ -270,7 +271,6 @@ class HuggingfaceDownloadMonitor:
         self.model_root = model_root
         self.progress = progress
         self.total_file_size = total_file_size
-        self.tmp_download_root = None
         self.incomplete_download_root = None
         self.stop_event = threading.Event()
         self.monitor_thread = None
@@ -278,25 +278,20 @@ class HuggingfaceDownloadMonitor:
 
     def set_download_roots(self):
         normalized_model_root = os.path.normpath(self.model_root)
-        normalized_hub_path = os.path.normpath("/models/")
-        index = normalized_model_root.find(normalized_hub_path)
-        if index > 0:
-            self.tmp_download_root = normalized_model_root[:index + len(normalized_hub_path)]
-
         two_dirs_up = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(normalized_model_root, "..", ".."))
         self.incomplete_download_root = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(two_dirs_up, "blobs"))
 
     def clean_tmp_files(self):
-        for filename in os.listdir(self.tmp_download_root):
+        for filename in os.listdir(model_root_dir):
             if filename.startswith("tmp"):
-                os.remove(os.path.join(self.tmp_download_root, filename))
+                os.remove(os.path.join(model_root_dir, filename))
 
     def monitor_file_size(self):
         while not self.stop_event.is_set():
-            if self.tmp_download_root is not None:
-                for filename in os.listdir(self.tmp_download_root):
+            if model_root_dir is not None:
+                for filename in os.listdir(model_root_dir):
                     if filename.startswith("tmp"):
-                        file_size = os.path.getsize(os.path.join(self.tmp_download_root, filename))
+                        file_size = os.path.getsize(os.path.join(model_root_dir, filename))
                         self.progress.emit((file_size, self.total_file_size))
 
             for filename in os.listdir(self.incomplete_download_root):
diff --git a/buzz/transcriber/recording_transcriber.py b/buzz/transcriber/recording_transcriber.py
index bfbaa86a..da58d7ee 100644
--- a/buzz/transcriber/recording_transcriber.py
+++ b/buzz/transcriber/recording_transcriber.py
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ class RecordingTranscriber(QObject):
         elif self.transcription_options.model.model_type == ModelType.FASTER_WHISPER:
             model_root_dir = user_cache_dir("Buzz")
             model_root_dir = os.path.join(model_root_dir, "models")
+            model_root_dir = os.getenv("BUZZ_MODEL_ROOT", model_root_dir)
 
             device = "auto"
             if platform.system() == "Windows":
diff --git a/buzz/transcriber/whisper_file_transcriber.py b/buzz/transcriber/whisper_file_transcriber.py
index 3585276d..f9bf1f58 100644
--- a/buzz/transcriber/whisper_file_transcriber.py
+++ b/buzz/transcriber/whisper_file_transcriber.py
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ class WhisperFileTranscriber(FileTranscriber):
 
         model_root_dir = user_cache_dir("Buzz")
         model_root_dir = os.path.join(model_root_dir, "models")
+        model_root_dir = os.getenv("BUZZ_MODEL_ROOT", model_root_dir)
 
         device = "auto"
         if platform.system() == "Windows":
diff --git a/docs/docs/preferences.md b/docs/docs/preferences.md
index d5405456..86e09875 100644
--- a/docs/docs/preferences.md
+++ b/docs/docs/preferences.md
@@ -69,3 +69,5 @@ combined to produce the final answer.
 **BUZZ_TRANSLATION_API_BASE_URl** - Base URL of OpenAI compatible API to use for translation. Available from `v1.0.2`.
 
 **BUZZ_TRANSLATION_API_KEY** - Api key of OpenAI compatible API to use for translation. Available from `v1.0.2`.
+
+**BUZZ_MODEL_ROOT** - Root directory to store model files. Defaults to [user_cache_dir](https://pypi.org/project/platformdirs/). Available from `v1.0.2`.