diff --git a/gfpgan/utils.py b/gfpgan/utils.py
index 74ee5a83..09adf099 100644
--- a/gfpgan/utils.py
+++ b/gfpgan/utils.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class GFPGANer():
         bg_upsampler (nn.Module): The upsampler for the background. Default: None.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, model_path, upscale=2, arch='clean', channel_multiplier=2, bg_upsampler=None, device=None):
+    def __init__(self, model_path, upscale=2, arch='clean', channel_multiplier=2, bg_upsampler=None, device=None, model_dir=None):
         self.upscale = upscale
         self.bg_upsampler = bg_upsampler
 
@@ -84,11 +84,11 @@ def __init__(self, model_path, upscale=2, arch='clean', channel_multiplier=2, bg
             save_ext='png',
             use_parse=True,
             device=self.device,
-            model_rootpath='gfpgan/weights')
+            model_rootpath=model_dir or 'gfpgan/weights')
 
         if model_path.startswith('https://'):
             model_path = load_file_from_url(
-                url=model_path, model_dir=os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, 'gfpgan/weights'), progress=True, file_name=None)
+                url=model_path, model_dir=model_dir or os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, 'gfpgan/weights'), progress=True, file_name=None)
         loadnet = torch.load(model_path)
         if 'params_ema' in loadnet:
             keyname = 'params_ema'