diff --git a/docs/save_load.rst b/docs/save_load.rst
index e90e4eba..15434eb6 100644
--- a/docs/save_load.rst
+++ b/docs/save_load.rst
@@ -40,6 +40,14 @@ For example:
     # Alternatively, load the model directly from the Hugging Face Hub
     model = smp.from_pretrained('username/my-model')
 
+Loading pre-trained model with different number of classes for fine-tuning:
+
+.. code:: python
+
+    import segmentation_models_pytorch as smp
+
+    model = smp.from_pretrained('<path-or-repo-name>', classes=5, strict=False)
+
 Saving model Metrics and Dataset Name
 -------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/examples/segformer_inference_pretrained.ipynb b/examples/segformer_inference_pretrained.ipynb
index a0dda7d4..d2d195fd 100644
--- a/examples/segformer_inference_pretrained.ipynb
+++ b/examples/segformer_inference_pretrained.ipynb
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
-    "# fix for HF hub download\n",
-    "# see PR https://github.com/albumentations-team/albumentations/pull/2171\n",
-    "!pip install -U git+https://github.com/qubvel/albumentations@patch-2"
+    "# make sure you have the latest version of the libraries\n",
+    "!pip install -U segmentation-models-pytorch\n",
+    "!pip install albumentations matplotlib requests pillow"
    ]
   },
   {
diff --git a/segmentation_models_pytorch/base/model.py b/segmentation_models_pytorch/base/model.py
index 29820840..67f9422a 100644
--- a/segmentation_models_pytorch/base/model.py
+++ b/segmentation_models_pytorch/base/model.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import torch
-from typing import TypeVar, Type
+import warnings
 
+from typing import TypeVar, Type
 from . import initialization as init
 from .hub_mixin import SMPHubMixin
 from .utils import is_torch_compiling
@@ -96,23 +97,45 @@ def load_state_dict(self, state_dict, **kwargs):
         # timm- ported encoders with TimmUniversalEncoder
         from segmentation_models_pytorch.encoders import TimmUniversalEncoder
 
-        if not isinstance(self.encoder, TimmUniversalEncoder):
-            return super().load_state_dict(state_dict, **kwargs)
-
-        patterns = ["regnet", "res2", "resnest", "mobilenetv3", "gernet"]
-
-        is_deprecated_encoder = any(
-            self.encoder.name.startswith(pattern) for pattern in patterns
-        )
-
-        if is_deprecated_encoder:
-            keys = list(state_dict.keys())
-            for key in keys:
-                new_key = key
-                if key.startswith("encoder.") and not key.startswith("encoder.model."):
-                    new_key = "encoder.model." + key.removeprefix("encoder.")
-                if "gernet" in self.encoder.name:
-                    new_key = new_key.replace(".stages.", ".stages_")
-                state_dict[new_key] = state_dict.pop(key)
+        if isinstance(self.encoder, TimmUniversalEncoder):
+            patterns = ["regnet", "res2", "resnest", "mobilenetv3", "gernet"]
+            is_deprecated_encoder = any(
+                self.encoder.name.startswith(pattern) for pattern in patterns
+            )
+            if is_deprecated_encoder:
+                keys = list(state_dict.keys())
+                for key in keys:
+                    new_key = key
+                    if key.startswith("encoder.") and not key.startswith(
+                        "encoder.model."
+                    ):
+                        new_key = "encoder.model." + key.removeprefix("encoder.")
+                    if "gernet" in self.encoder.name:
+                        new_key = new_key.replace(".stages.", ".stages_")
+                    state_dict[new_key] = state_dict.pop(key)
+
+        # To be able to load weight with mismatched sizes
+        # We are going to filter mismatched sizes as well if strict=False
+        strict = kwargs.get("strict", True)
+        if not strict:
+            mismatched_keys = []
+            model_state_dict = self.state_dict()
+            common_keys = set(model_state_dict.keys()) & set(state_dict.keys())
+            for key in common_keys:
+                if model_state_dict[key].shape != state_dict[key].shape:
+                    mismatched_keys.append(
+                        (key, model_state_dict[key].shape, state_dict[key].shape)
+                    )
+                    state_dict.pop(key)
+
+            if mismatched_keys:
+                str_keys = "\n".join(
+                    [
+                        f" - {key}: {s} (weights) -> {m} (model)"
+                        for key, m, s in mismatched_keys
+                    ]
+                )
+                text = f"\n\n !!!!!! Mismatched keys !!!!!!\n\nYou should TRAIN the model to use it:\n{str_keys}\n"
+                warnings.warn(text, stacklevel=-1)
 
         return super().load_state_dict(state_dict, **kwargs)
diff --git a/tests/test_base.py b/tests/test_base.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1078c493
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import torch
+import tempfile
+import segmentation_models_pytorch as smp
+
+import pytest
+
+
+def test_from_pretrained_with_mismatched_keys():
+    original_model = smp.Unet(classes=1)
+
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
+        original_model.save_pretrained(temp_dir)
+
+        # we should catch warning here and check if there specific keys there
+        with pytest.warns(UserWarning):
+            restored_model = smp.from_pretrained(temp_dir, classes=2, strict=False)
+
+    assert restored_model.segmentation_head[0].out_channels == 2
+
+    # verify all the weight are the same expect mismatched ones
+    original_state_dict = original_model.state_dict()
+    restored_state_dict = restored_model.state_dict()
+
+    expected_mismatched_keys = [
+        "segmentation_head.0.weight",
+        "segmentation_head.0.bias",
+    ]
+    mismatched_keys = []
+    for key in original_state_dict:
+        if key not in expected_mismatched_keys:
+            assert torch.allclose(original_state_dict[key], restored_state_dict[key])
+        else:
+            mismatched_keys.append(key)
+
+    assert len(mismatched_keys) == 2
+    assert sorted(mismatched_keys) == sorted(expected_mismatched_keys)