diff --git a/src/maggotuba/models/train_model.py b/src/maggotuba/models/train_model.py
index 34c87f63a34307ce63a9276b66317e399f577667..c121ddcacc4bc3f697bf8d3b2a9c82873ac3c0ba 100644
--- a/src/maggotuba/models/train_model.py
+++ b/src/maggotuba/models/train_model.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def train_model(backend, pretrained_model_instance="default"):
     nlabels = len(dataset.labels)
     assert 0 < nlabels
     # copy the pretrained model into the model instance directory
-    pretrained_autoencoder_dir = backend.model_dir() / "pretrained_models" / pretrained_model_instance
+    pretrained_autoencoder_dir = backend.project_dir / "pretrained_models" / pretrained_model_instance
     config_file = None
     for file in pretrained_autoencoder_dir.iterdir():
         if not file.is_file():