diff --git a/src/connection_handler.py b/src/connection_handler.py
index f711c19..3c28c79 100644
--- a/src/connection_handler.py
+++ b/src/connection_handler.py
@@ -115,8 +115,9 @@ class instance():
         else:
             self.remote = True
             if not self.remote_url:
-                self.remote_url = 'http://0.0.0.0:11434'
-                window.connection_error()
+                window.remote_connection_entry.set_text('http://0.0.0.0:11434')
+            window.remote_connection_switch.set_sensitive(True)
+            window.remote_connection_switch.set_active(True)
 
     def stop(self):
         if self.idle_timer:
diff --git a/src/dialogs.py b/src/dialogs.py
index 369727a..c469e13 100644
--- a/src/dialogs.py
+++ b/src/dialogs.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 Handles UI dialogs
 """
 import os
-import logging, requests, threading
+import logging, requests, threading, shutil
 from pytube import YouTube
 from html2text import html2text
 from gi.repository import Adw, Gtk
@@ -223,7 +223,8 @@ def reconnect_remote(self):
         extra_child=container
     )
     dialog.add_response("close", _("Close Alpaca"))
-    dialog.add_response("local", _("Use local instance"))
+    if shutil.which('ollama'):
+        dialog.add_response("local", _("Use local instance"))
     dialog.add_response("remote", _("Connect"))
     dialog.set_response_appearance("remote", Adw.ResponseAppearance.SUGGESTED)
     dialog.set_default_response("remote")