diff --git a/python/src/load.cpp b/python/src/load.cpp
index 492a40b41..18157dfc0 100644
--- a/python/src/load.cpp
+++ b/python/src/load.cpp
@@ -232,6 +232,8 @@ array mlx_load_npy_helper(py::object file, StreamOrDevice s) {
     }
     return {arr};
   }
+  throw std::invalid_argument(
+      "[load_npy] Input must be a file-like object, string, or pathlib.Path");
 }
 
 DictOrArray mlx_load_helper(
diff --git a/python/src/load.h b/python/src/load.h
index 9103678bf..e34977151 100644
--- a/python/src/load.h
+++ b/python/src/load.h
@@ -22,7 +22,10 @@ void mlx_save_safetensor_helper(
     py::dict d,
     bool retain_graph = true);
 
-DictOrArray mlx_load_helper(py::object file, StreamOrDevice s);
+DictOrArray mlx_load_helper(
+    py::object file,
+    std::optional<std::string> format,
+    StreamOrDevice s);
 void mlx_save_helper(
     py::object file,
     array a,