diff --git a/fedn/fedn/network/clients/client.py b/fedn/fedn/network/clients/client.py
index 4dd67eaad..c5f93d315 100644
--- a/fedn/fedn/network/clients/client.py
+++ b/fedn/fedn/network/clients/client.py
@@ -370,8 +370,11 @@ def get_model_from_combiner(self, id, timeout=20):
         """
         data = BytesIO()
         time_start = time.time()
+        request = fedn.ModelRequest(id=id)
+        request.sender.name = self.name
+        request.sender.role = fedn.WORKER
 
-        for part in self.modelStub.Download(fedn.ModelRequest(id=id), metadata=self.metadata):
+        for part in self.modelStub.Download(request, metadata=self.metadata):
 
             if part.status == fedn.ModelStatus.IN_PROGRESS:
                 data.write(part.data)
@@ -515,6 +518,9 @@ def _process_training_request(self, model_id):
             meta = {}
             tic = time.time()
             mdl = self.get_model_from_combiner(str(model_id))
+            if mdl is None:
+                logger.error("Could not retrieve model from combiner. Aborting training request.")
+                return None, None
             meta['fetch_model'] = time.time() - tic
 
             inpath = self.helper.get_tmp_path()
@@ -579,6 +585,9 @@ def _process_validation_request(self, model_id, is_inference):
         self.state = ClientState.validating
         try:
             model = self.get_model_from_combiner(str(model_id))
+            if model is None:
+                logger.error("Could not retrieve model from combiner. Aborting validation request.")
+                return None
             inpath = self.helper.get_tmp_path()
 
             with open(inpath, "wb") as fh:
diff --git a/fedn/fedn/network/combiner/interfaces.py b/fedn/fedn/network/combiner/interfaces.py
index 1bb93168b..69b987be0 100644
--- a/fedn/fedn/network/combiner/interfaces.py
+++ b/fedn/fedn/network/combiner/interfaces.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import base64
 import copy
 import json
+import time
 from io import BytesIO
 
 import grpc
@@ -239,7 +240,7 @@ def submit(self, config):
 
         return response
 
-    def get_model(self, id):
+    def get_model(self, id, timeout=10):
         """ Download a model from the combiner server.
 
         :param id: The model id.
@@ -255,7 +256,13 @@ def get_model(self, id):
         data = BytesIO()
         data.seek(0, 0)
 
-        parts = modelservice.Download(fedn.ModelRequest(id=id))
+        time_start = time.time()
+
+        request = fedn.ModelRequest(id=id)
+        request.sender.name = self.name
+        request.sender.role = fedn.WORKER
+
+        parts = modelservice.Download(request)
         for part in parts:
             if part.status == fedn.ModelStatus.IN_PROGRESS:
                 data.write(part.data)
@@ -263,6 +270,10 @@ def get_model(self, id):
                 return data
             if part.status == fedn.ModelStatus.FAILED:
                 return None
+            if part.status == fedn.ModelStatus.UNKNOWN:
+                if time.time() - time_start > timeout:
+                    return None
+                continue
 
     def allowing_clients(self):
         """ Check if the combiner is allowing additional client connections.
diff --git a/fedn/fedn/network/combiner/modelservice.py b/fedn/fedn/network/combiner/modelservice.py
index 9f0646a06..59c63108b 100644
--- a/fedn/fedn/network/combiner/modelservice.py
+++ b/fedn/fedn/network/combiner/modelservice.py
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ def Download(self, request, context):
         :return: A model response iterator.
         :rtype: :class:`fedn.network.grpc.fedn_pb2.ModelResponse`
         """
-        logger.debug("grpc.ModelService.Download: Called")
+        logger.info(f'grpc.ModelService.Download: {request.sender.role}:{request.sender.name} requested model {request.id}')
         try:
             status = self.temp_model_storage.get_model_metadata(request.id)
             if status != fedn.ModelStatus.OK: