diff --git a/starpilot/assets/model_manager.py b/starpilot/assets/model_manager.py
index fa594703f..39c551cd2 100644
--- a/starpilot/assets/model_manager.py
+++ b/starpilot/assets/model_manager.py
@@ -182,7 +182,12 @@ class ModelManager:
 
   @staticmethod
   def _manifest_paths(manifest_version: str) -> tuple[str, ...]:
-    return (f"Models/model_names_{manifest_version}.json",)
+    # Manifests are kept at the root of the Models branch; retain the nested
+    # path for older resource checkouts that stored them beside artifacts.
+    return (
+      f"model_names_{manifest_version}.json",
+      f"Models/model_names_{manifest_version}.json",
+    )
 
   def _set_model_param_keys(self, model_key: str | None = None, model_name: str | None = None, model_version: str | None = None):
     if model_key is not None and model_key != "":
diff --git a/starpilot/assets/tests/test_model_pipeline.py b/starpilot/assets/tests/test_model_pipeline.py
index 95bdfc903..0f970e300 100644
--- a/starpilot/assets/tests/test_model_pipeline.py
+++ b/starpilot/assets/tests/test_model_pipeline.py
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@ def test_v24_is_the_only_manifest_candidate():
 
 
 def test_v24_manifest_is_loaded_from_models_checkout():
-  assert ModelManager._manifest_paths("v24") == ("Models/model_names_v24.json",)
+  assert ModelManager._manifest_paths("v24") == (
+    "model_names_v24.json",
+    "Models/model_names_v24.json",
+  )
 
 
 def test_old_manifest_ids_resolve_to_v23_namespace():