diff --git a/terratorch/models/backbones/utils.py b/terratorch/models/backbones/utils.py
index 8945fdfd..06e4f462 100644
--- a/terratorch/models/backbones/utils.py
+++ b/terratorch/models/backbones/utils.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ def _estimate_in_chans(model_bands: list[HLSBands] | list[str] | tuple[int, int]
 
     # Conditional to deal with the different possible choices for the bands 
     # Bands as lists of strings or enum
-    if all([isinstance(b, str) for b in model_bands]): 
+    if all([isinstance(b, str) or isinstance(b, HLSBands) for b in model_bands]): 
         in_chans = len(model_bands)
     # Bands as intervals limited by integers
     elif all([isinstance(b, int) for b in model_bands] or _are_sublists_of_int(model_bands)):