diff --git a/src/api.py b/src/api.py
index 6e4e03d..45ae8ac 100644
--- a/src/api.py
+++ b/src/api.py
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ def predict_fmlearn():
 
     data = {}
 
-    if not fml.is_model_trained():
+    if fml._new_recs == math.inf:
         data['response'] = 'Model not trained!'
         return json.dumps(data)
 
diff --git a/src/fmlearn.py b/src/fmlearn.py
index a4c7a20..52d2d08 100644
--- a/src/fmlearn.py
+++ b/src/fmlearn.py
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ def predict(self, X_pred):
         # or if the retrain flag is set to true because new data has been loaded
         if self._retain == True or self._new_recs >= self.MAX_NEW_RECORDS:
             self.train()
+        
+        if not self.is_model_trained():
+            self.load_data_and_train()
 
         y_pred = self._model.predict(X_pred)