diff --git a/svm_prefilter_service/mule.py b/svm_prefilter_service/mule.py
index 357025e..9931b3d 100644
--- a/svm_prefilter_service/mule.py
+++ b/svm_prefilter_service/mule.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def json_datetime_dumper(o):
 class ModelMemer:
 
     def __init__(self):
-        self._loaded_model = None
+        self._loaded_model = False
 
     def download_model_if_needed(self):
         models_dir = "/tmp/svm_model"
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ class ModelMemer:
         target_class_name = self.model_details['target_class_name']
         self.target_id = self.classes.index(target_class_name)
 
+        self._loaded_model = True
+
 
 def run_classification(audio_file_path: str, memer: ModelMemer):
     memer.download_model_if_needed()