diff --git a/src/axolotl/core/trainer_builder.py b/src/axolotl/core/trainer_builder.py
index 54ee195361..a7552db9dd 100755
--- a/src/axolotl/core/trainer_builder.py
+++ b/src/axolotl/core/trainer_builder.py
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
     RewardTrainer,
 )
 from trl.trainer.utils import RewardDataCollatorWithPadding, pad_to_length
+from llmcompressor.transformers.finetune.session_mixin import SessionManagerMixIn
 
 from axolotl.integrations.base import PluginManager
 from axolotl.monkeypatch.multipack import SUPPORTED_MULTIPACK_MODEL_TYPES
@@ -424,7 +425,7 @@ def create_scheduler(
         return self.lr_scheduler
 
 
-class AxolotlTrainer(SchedulerMixin, Trainer):
+class AxolotlTrainer(SessionManagerMixIn, SchedulerMixin, Trainer):
     """
     Extend the base Trainer for axolotl helpers
     """
@@ -1309,11 +1310,12 @@ class TrainerBuilderBase(abc.ABC):
     _model_ref = None
     _peft_config = None
 
-    def __init__(self, cfg, model, tokenizer, processor=None):
+    def __init__(self, cfg, model, tokenizer, processor=None, teacher=None):
         self.cfg = cfg
         self.model = model
         self.tokenizer = tokenizer
         self.processor = processor
+        self.teacher = teacher
 
         # in case the model supports tagging, add the axolotl tag.
         # This makes sure the tag is correctly pushed even if a user calls
@@ -1950,6 +1952,11 @@ def build(self, total_num_steps):
             trainer_kwargs["dataset_tags"] = [
                 d["path"] for d in self.cfg.datasets if not Path(d["path"]).is_dir()
             ]
+
+        if self.cfg.compressor:
+            trainer_kwargs["recipe"] = self.cfg.compressor.recipe
+            trainer_kwargs["recipe_args"] = self.cfg.compressor.recipe_args or {}
+
         trainer = trainer_cls(
             model=self.model,
             train_dataset=self.train_dataset,
@@ -1957,6 +1964,7 @@ def build(self, total_num_steps):
             args=training_args,
             data_collator=self.build_collator(training_args, **data_collator_kwargs),
             callbacks=self.get_callbacks(),
+            teacher=self.teacher,
             **trainer_kwargs,
         )
         trainer = self.hook_post_create_trainer(trainer)
diff --git a/src/axolotl/train.py b/src/axolotl/train.py
index dc7289b093..dc893391a2 100644
--- a/src/axolotl/train.py
+++ b/src/axolotl/train.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 from axolotl.logging_config import configure_logging
 from axolotl.utils.dict import DictDefault
 from axolotl.utils.freeze import freeze_layers_except
-from axolotl.utils.models import load_model, load_processor, load_tokenizer
+from axolotl.utils.models import load_model, load_processor, load_tokenizer, load_teacher
 from axolotl.utils.trainer import setup_trainer
 
 try:
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ def train(
     if model.generation_config is not None:
         model.generation_config.do_sample = True
 
+    teacher = load_teacher(cfg, tokenizer)
+
     model_ref = None
     if cfg.rl and cfg.rl != "orpo":
         if cfg.adapter and not cfg.rl_adapter_ref_model:
@@ -123,6 +125,7 @@ def train(
         tokenizer,
         processor,
         total_num_steps,
+        teacher,
     )
 
     if cfg.fix_untrained_tokens:
diff --git a/src/axolotl/utils/models.py b/src/axolotl/utils/models.py
index 523fd76feb..152af310b7 100644
--- a/src/axolotl/utils/models.py
+++ b/src/axolotl/utils/models.py
@@ -1203,6 +1203,27 @@ def load_model(
     return loader.load_model()
 
 
+def load_teacher(
+    cfg: DictDefault,
+    tokenizer: PreTrainedTokenizerBase,
+) -> Optional[PreTrainedModel]:
+    """
+    Load a teacher model for a given configuration and tokenizer.
+    """
+    if not cfg.compressor or not cfg.compressor.teacher:
+        return None
+
+    loader = ModelLoader(
+        cfg.compressor.teacher,
+        tokenizer,
+        inference=True,
+        reference_model=True,
+    )
+    teacher, _ = loader.load_model()
+
+    return teacher
+
+
 def load_adapter(model, cfg, adapter, inference=False):
     # type: (PreTrainedModel, DictDefault, Optional[str], bool) -> Tuple[PreTrainedModel, Optional[PeftConfig]]
 
diff --git a/src/axolotl/utils/trainer.py b/src/axolotl/utils/trainer.py
index 32e54c9a86..256d78419c 100644
--- a/src/axolotl/utils/trainer.py
+++ b/src/axolotl/utils/trainer.py
@@ -513,14 +513,14 @@ def prepare_opinionated_env(cfg):
 
 
 def setup_trainer(
-    cfg, train_dataset, eval_dataset, model, tokenizer, processor, total_num_steps
+    cfg, train_dataset, eval_dataset, model, tokenizer, processor, total_num_steps, teacher
 ):
     if cfg.rl in ("dpo", "ipo", "orpo", "kto", "simpo"):
         trainer_builder = HFRLTrainerBuilder(cfg, model[0], tokenizer, processor)
         trainer_builder.model_ref = model[1]
         trainer_builder.peft_config = model[2]
     else:
-        trainer_builder = HFCausalTrainerBuilder(cfg, model[0], tokenizer, processor)
+        trainer_builder = HFCausalTrainerBuilder(cfg, model[0], tokenizer, processor, teacher)
 
     trainer_builder.train_dataset = train_dataset
     trainer_builder.eval_dataset = eval_dataset