diff --git a/sunnypilot/selfdrive/controls/lib/nnlc/helpers.py b/sunnypilot/selfdrive/controls/lib/nnlc/helpers.py
index 1742744e65..44ec1300e9 100644
--- a/sunnypilot/selfdrive/controls/lib/nnlc/helpers.py
+++ b/sunnypilot/selfdrive/controls/lib/nnlc/helpers.py
@@ -41,14 +41,18 @@ def get_nn_model_path(CP: structs.CarParams) -> tuple[str | None, str, bool]:
   if len(eps_fw) > 3:
     eps_fw = eps_fw.replace("\\", "")
     nn_candidate = f"{car_fingerprint} {eps_fw}"
-  else:
-    nn_candidate = car_fingerprint
-  model_path, max_similarity = check_nn_path(nn_candidate)
-  if car_fingerprint not in model_path or 0.0 <= max_similarity < 0.9:
-    nn_candidate = car_fingerprint
     model_path, max_similarity = check_nn_path(nn_candidate)
-    if car_fingerprint not in model_path or 0.0 <= max_similarity < 0.9:
-      model_path = None
+
+    if model_path is not None and car_fingerprint in model_path and max_similarity >= 0.9:
+      model_name = os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(model_path))[0]
+      exact_match = max_similarity >= 0.99
+      return model_path, model_name, exact_match
+
+  nn_candidate = car_fingerprint
+  model_path, max_similarity = check_nn_path(nn_candidate)
+
+  if model_path is None or car_fingerprint not in model_path or max_similarity < 0.9:
+    model_path = None
 
   if model_path is not None:
     model_name = os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(model_path))[0]