diff --git a/gpt4all-bindings/python/gpt4all/_pyllmodel.py b/gpt4all-bindings/python/gpt4all/_pyllmodel.py
index 892d72e7..4e578064 100644
--- a/gpt4all-bindings/python/gpt4all/_pyllmodel.py
+++ b/gpt4all-bindings/python/gpt4all/_pyllmodel.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import os
 import platform
 import re
 import subprocess
+from pathlib import Path
 import sys
 import threading
 from enum import Enum
@@ -54,16 +55,37 @@ MODEL_LIB_PATH = importlib_resources.files("gpt4all") / "llmodel_DO_NOT_MODIFY"
 
 
 def load_llmodel_library():
+    """
+    Loads the llmodel shared library based on the current operating system.
+
+    This function attempts to load the shared library using the appropriate file
+    extension for the operating system. It first tries to load the library with the
+    'lib' prefix (common for macOS, Linux, and MinGW on Windows). If the file is not
+    found and the operating system is Windows, it attempts to load the library without
+    the 'lib' prefix (common for MSVC on Windows).
+
+    Returns:
+        ctypes.CDLL: The loaded shared library.
+
+    Raises:
+        OSError: If the shared library cannot be found.
+    """
+    # Determine the appropriate file extension for the shared library based on the platform
     ext = {"Darwin": "dylib", "Linux": "so", "Windows": "dll"}[platform.system()]
 
+    # Define library names with and without the 'lib' prefix
+    library_name_with_lib_prefix = f"libllmodel.{ext}"
+    library_name_without_lib_prefix = "llmodel.dll"
+    base_path = MODEL_LIB_PATH
+
     try:
-        # macOS, Linux, MinGW
-        lib = ctypes.CDLL(str(MODEL_LIB_PATH / f"libllmodel.{ext}"))
-    except FileNotFoundError:
-        if ext != 'dll':
+        # Attempt to load the shared library with the 'lib' prefix (common for macOS, Linux, and MinGW)
+        lib = ctypes.CDLL(str(base_path / library_name_with_lib_prefix))
+    except OSError:  # OSError is more general and includes FileNotFoundError
+        if ext != "dll":
             raise
-        # MSVC
-        lib = ctypes.CDLL(str(MODEL_LIB_PATH / "llmodel.dll"))
+        # For Windows (ext == 'dll'), attempt to load the shared library without the 'lib' prefix (common for MSVC)
+        lib = ctypes.CDLL(str(base_path / library_name_without_lib_prefix))
 
     return lib