diff --git a/scripts/install.sh b/scripts/install.sh
index 79a7b564..468e69a8 100644
--- a/scripts/install.sh
+++ b/scripts/install.sh
@@ -132,10 +132,25 @@ Group=ollama
 Restart=always
 RestartSec=3
 Environment="PATH=$PATH"
+EnvironmentFile=/etc/default/ollama
+ExecStartPre=/bin/bash -c 'if [ -f /etc/default/ollama ]; then echo "Loaded environment file: /etc/default/ollama"; fi'
 
 [Install]
 WantedBy=default.target
 EOF
+
+    # create /etc/default/ollama if doesn't already exist
+    FILE="/etc/default/ollama"
+    if [ ! -f "$FILE" ]; then
+        echo "Creating default environment file: $FILE"
+        sudo bash -c "cat <<EOF > $FILE
+# OLLAMA_MODELS=/path/to/model/location
+# OLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0:11434
+# OLLAMA_ORIGINS=*
+# OLLAMA_MAX_LOADED_MODEL=3
+# OLLAMA_NUM_PARALLEL=6
+EOF"
+    fi
     SYSTEMCTL_RUNNING="$(systemctl is-system-running || true)"
     case $SYSTEMCTL_RUNNING in
         running|degraded)