diff --git a/whisper/__init__.py b/whisper/__init__.py
index e679883..ca918a9 100644
--- a/whisper/__init__.py
+++ b/whisper/__init__.py
@@ -147,7 +147,10 @@ def load_model(
     with (
         io.BytesIO(checkpoint_file) if in_memory else open(checkpoint_file, "rb")
     ) as fp:
-        checkpoint = torch.load(fp, map_location=device, weights_only=True)
+        try:
+            checkpoint = torch.load(fp, map_location=device, weights_only=True)
+        except TypeError:  # for compatibility with older torch
+            checkpoint = torch.load(fp, map_location=device)
     del checkpoint_file
 
     dims = ModelDimensions(**checkpoint["dims"])