diff --git a/gfpgan/utils.py b/gfpgan/utils.py
index 74ee5a83..f8971d1b 100644
--- a/gfpgan/utils.py
+++ b/gfpgan/utils.py
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ def __init__(self, model_path, upscale=2, arch='clean', channel_multiplier=2, bg
             from gfpgan.archs.restoreformer_arch import RestoreFormer
             self.gfpgan = RestoreFormer()
         # initialize face helper
+        model_dir=os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, 'gfpgan/weights')
         self.face_helper = FaceRestoreHelper(
             upscale,
             face_size=512,
@@ -84,11 +85,11 @@ def __init__(self, model_path, upscale=2, arch='clean', channel_multiplier=2, bg
             save_ext='png',
             use_parse=True,
             device=self.device,
-            model_rootpath='gfpgan/weights')
+            model_rootpath=model_dir)
 
         if model_path.startswith('https://'):
             model_path = load_file_from_url(
-                url=model_path, model_dir=os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, 'gfpgan/weights'), progress=True, file_name=None)
+                url=model_path, model_dir=model_dir, progress=True, file_name=None)
         loadnet = torch.load(model_path)
         if 'params_ema' in loadnet:
             keyname = 'params_ema'