diff --git a/python/graphstorm/sagemaker/sagemaker_train.py b/python/graphstorm/sagemaker/sagemaker_train.py
index 3e282774a2..f59c094e28 100644
--- a/python/graphstorm/sagemaker/sagemaker_train.py
+++ b/python/graphstorm/sagemaker/sagemaker_train.py
@@ -102,8 +102,8 @@ def launch_train_task(task_type, num_gpus, graph_config,
         "--ssh-port", "22"]
     launch_cmd += [custom_script] if custom_script is not None else []
     launch_cmd += ["--cf", f"{yaml_path}",
-        "--save-model-path", f"{save_model_path}"] + \
-        ["--restore-model-path", f"{restore_model_path}"] \
+        "--save-model-path", f"{save_model_path}"]
+    launch_cmd += ["--restore-model-path", f"{restore_model_path}"] \
             if restore_model_path is not None else []
     launch_cmd += extra_args
 
@@ -153,9 +153,13 @@ def run_train(args, unknownargs):
     """
     num_gpus = args.num_gpus
     data_path = args.data_path
-    restore_model_path = "/tmp/gsgnn_model_checkpoint/"
+    model_checkpoint_s3 = args.model_checkpoint_to_load
+    if model_checkpoint_s3 is not None:
+        restore_model_path = "/tmp/gsgnn_model_checkpoint/"
+        os.makedirs(restore_model_path, exist_ok=True)
+    else:
+        restore_model_path = None
     output_path = "/tmp/gsgnn_model/"
-    os.makedirs(restore_model_path, exist_ok=True)
     os.makedirs(output_path, exist_ok=True)
 
     # start the ssh server
@@ -214,7 +218,6 @@ def run_train(args, unknownargs):
     graph_data_s3 = args.graph_data_s3
     task_type = args.task_type
     train_yaml_s3 = args.train_yaml_s3
-    model_checkpoint_s3 = args.model_checkpoint_to_load
     model_artifact_s3 = args.model_artifact_s3.rstrip('/')
     custom_script = args.custom_script
 
diff --git a/sagemaker/launch/launch_train.py b/sagemaker/launch/launch_train.py
index 65d2db4020..9d1109ab5c 100644
--- a/sagemaker/launch/launch_train.py
+++ b/sagemaker/launch/launch_train.py
@@ -66,10 +66,11 @@ def run_job(input_args, image, unknowargs):
               "graph-name": graph_name,
               "graph-data-s3": graph_data_s3,
               "train-yaml-s3": train_yaml_s3,
-              "model-artifact-s3": model_artifact_s3,
-              "model-checkpoint-to-load": model_checkpoint_to_load}
+              "model-artifact-s3": model_artifact_s3}
     if custom_script is not None:
         params["custom-script"] = custom_script
+    if model_checkpoint_to_load is not None:
+        params["model-checkpoint-to-load"] = model_checkpoint_to_load
     # We must handle cases like
     # --target-etype query,clicks,asin query,search,asin
     # --feat-name ntype0:feat0 ntype1:feat1