diff --git a/src/atomate2/forcefields/utils.py b/src/atomate2/forcefields/utils.py
index 83d4280177..d8125421b9 100644
--- a/src/atomate2/forcefields/utils.py
+++ b/src/atomate2/forcefields/utils.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 import json
 from contextlib import contextmanager
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from monty.json import MontyDecoder
@@ -59,9 +60,21 @@ def ase_calculator(calculator_meta: str | dict, **kwargs: Any) -> Calculator | N
             calculator = PESCalculator(potential, **kwargs)
 
         elif calculator_name == MLFF.MACE:
-            from mace.calculators import mace_mp
-
-            calculator = mace_mp(**kwargs)
+            from mace.calculators import MACECalculator, mace_mp
+
+            model = kwargs.get("model")
+            if isinstance(model, str | Path) and Path(model).exists():
+                model_path = model
+                device = kwargs.get("device") or "cpu"
+                if "device" in kwargs:
+                    del kwargs["device"]
+                calculator = MACECalculator(
+                    model_paths=model_path,
+                    device=device,
+                    **kwargs,
+                )
+            else:
+                calculator = mace_mp(**kwargs)
 
         elif calculator_name == MLFF.GAP:
             from quippy.potential import Potential
diff --git a/tests/forcefields/test_jobs.py b/tests/forcefields/test_jobs.py
index 779310aef2..0dbb765311 100644
--- a/tests/forcefields/test_jobs.py
+++ b/tests/forcefields/test_jobs.py
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ def test_mace_relax_maker(
     # NOTE the test model is not trained on Si, so the energy is not accurate
     job = ForceFieldRelaxMaker(
         force_field_name="MACE",
-        calculator_kwargs={"model": model},
+        calculator_kwargs={"model": model, "default_dtype": "float32"},
         steps=25,
         optimizer_kwargs={"optimizer": "BFGSLineSearch"},
         relax_cell=relax_cell,
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ def test_mace_relax_maker(
 
     if fix_symmetry:  # if symmetry is fixed, the symmetry should be the same or higher
         assert is_subgroup(symmetry_ops_init, symmetry_ops_final)
-    else:  # if symmetry is not fixed, it can both increase or decrease
+    else:  # if symmetry is not fixed, it can both increase or decrease or stay the same
         assert not is_subgroup(symmetry_ops_init, symmetry_ops_final)
 
     if relax_cell: