diff --git a/src/instructlab/training/config.py b/src/instructlab/training/config.py
index 51e9752e..7eb66c02 100644
--- a/src/instructlab/training/config.py
+++ b/src/instructlab/training/config.py
@@ -156,6 +156,9 @@ class TrainingArgs(BaseModel):
         os.path.dirname(__file__), "chat_templates/ibm_generic_tmpl.py"
     )
 
+    # this field determins if ibm_legacy_tmpl should be used instead
+    use_legacy_sp_tokens: bool = False
+
     # this field specifies the filepath to the training dataset before processing
     data_path: str
     ckpt_output_dir: str
diff --git a/src/instructlab/training/main_ds.py b/src/instructlab/training/main_ds.py
index 4c04da0f..d2708656 100644
--- a/src/instructlab/training/main_ds.py
+++ b/src/instructlab/training/main_ds.py
@@ -691,6 +691,12 @@ def run_training(torch_args: TorchrunArgs, train_args: TrainingArgs) -> None:
     """
     check_valid_train_args(train_args)
 
+    # switch out generic tmpl for legacy tmpl if requested
+    if train_args.use_legacy_sp_tokens:
+        train_args.chat_tmpl_path = os.path.join(
+            os.path.dirname(__file__), "chat_templates/ibm_legacy_tmpl.py"
+        )
+
     if train_args.process_data:
         dp.main(
             DataProcessArgs(