diff --git a/aider/main.py b/aider/main.py
index afb3f836624..348836441f4 100644
--- a/aider/main.py
+++ b/aider/main.py
@@ -887,6 +887,13 @@ def get_io(pretty):
         analytics.event("exit", reason="Invalid lint command format")
         return 1
 
+    if main_model.ollama_error and args.exit:
+        io.tool_error(
+            f"Cannot connect to Ollama: {main_model.ollama_error}\n"
+            "Aborting because --exit (batch mode) was specified."
+        )
+        return 1
+
     if args.show_model_warnings:
         problem = models.sanity_check_models(io, main_model)
         if problem:
diff --git a/aider/models.py b/aider/models.py
index 3edbe26644e..fead8af3e8b 100644
--- a/aider/models.py
+++ b/aider/models.py
@@ -242,6 +242,8 @@ def get_model_info(self, model):
             try:
                 litellm_info = litellm.get_model_info(model)
             except Exception as ex:
+                if str(ex).startswith("OllamaError:"):
+                    raise
                 if "model_prices_and_context_window.json" not in str(ex):
                     print(str(ex))
 
@@ -327,6 +329,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.max_chat_history_tokens = 1024
         self.weak_model = None
         self.editor_model = None
+        self.ollama_error = None
 
         # Find the extra settings
         self.extra_model_settings = next(
@@ -357,7 +360,13 @@ def __init__(
             self.get_editor_model(editor_model, editor_edit_format)
 
     def get_model_info(self, model):
-        return model_info_manager.get_model_info(model)
+        try:
+            return model_info_manager.get_model_info(model)
+        except Exception as ex:
+            if str(ex).startswith("OllamaError:"):
+                self.ollama_error = ex
+                return {}
+            raise
 
     def _copy_fields(self, source):
         """Helper to copy fields from a ModelSettings instance to self"""