diff --git a/frigate/config/config.py b/frigate/config/config.py
index 4b6eb68aa..0284e5d35 100644
--- a/frigate/config/config.py
+++ b/frigate/config/config.py
@@ -511,9 +511,10 @@ class FrigateConfig(FrigateBaseModel):
                 elif detector_config.type == "edgetpu":
                     model_config["path"] = "/edgetpu_model.tflite"
 
-            # Verify that the model path points to an existing file.
-            if not os.path.exists(model_config["path"]):
-                raise ValueError(f"Model path '{model_config['path']}' does not exist.")
+            # If using a local file, verify that the model path points to an existing file.
+            if not model_config["path"].startswith("plus://"):
+                if not os.path.exists(model_config["path"]):
+                    raise ValueError(f"Model path '{model_config['path']}' does not exist.")
 
             model = ModelConfig.model_validate(model_config)
             model.check_and_load_plus_model(self.plus_api, detector_config.type)
diff --git a/frigate/detectors/detector_config.py b/frigate/detectors/detector_config.py
index 103b973c2..369aefb05 100644
--- a/frigate/detectors/detector_config.py
+++ b/frigate/detectors/detector_config.py
@@ -103,14 +103,17 @@ class ModelConfig(BaseModel):
     def __init__(self, **config):
         super().__init__(**config)
 
-        # Verify that the labelmap path points to an existing file.
-        if not os.path.exists(config.get("labelmap_path", "/labelmap.txt")):
-            raise ValueError(
-                f"Model labelmap_path '{config.get('labelmap_path', '/labelmap.txt')}' does not exist."
-            )
+        path = config.get("labelmap_path", "/labelmap.txt")
+
+        # If using a local file, verify that the labelmap path points to an existing file.
+        if not path.startswith("plus://"):
+            if not os.path.exists(path):
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"Model labelmap_path '{path}' does not exist."
+                )
 
         self._merged_labelmap = {
-            **load_labels(config.get("labelmap_path", "/labelmap.txt")),
+            **load_labels(path),
             **config.get("labelmap", {}),
         }
         self._colormap = {}