diff --git a/studio/backend/utils/hardware/hardware.py b/studio/backend/utils/hardware/hardware.py
index d4d326be4d..8f0545893a 100644
--- a/studio/backend/utils/hardware/hardware.py
+++ b/studio/backend/utils/hardware/hardware.py
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ def detect_hardware() -> DeviceType:
       3. CPU   (fallback)
     """
     global DEVICE, CHAT_ONLY
+    CHAT_ONLY = True  # reset — only CUDA sets it to False
 
     # --- CUDA: try PyTorch ---
     if _has_torch():