diff --git a/src/maxtext/models/models.py b/src/maxtext/models/models.py
index 8e20c01bba..0d1fcab700 100644
--- a/src/maxtext/models/models.py
+++ b/src/maxtext/models/models.py
@@ -335,8 +335,8 @@ def __init__(
     if cfg.pure_nnx_decoder:
       self.decoder = NNXDecoder(config=cfg, mesh=mesh, quant=self.quant, model_mode=self.model_mode, rngs=rngs)
     else:
-      self.decoder = Decoder(config=cfg, mesh=mesh, quant=self.quant, model_mode=self.model_mode)
-      self.decoder = nnx_wrappers.ToNNX(self.decoder, rngs=rngs)
+      decoder_linen = Decoder(config=cfg, mesh=mesh, quant=self.quant, model_mode=self.model_mode)
+      self.decoder = nnx_wrappers.ToNNX(decoder_linen, rngs=rngs)
     self.hidden_states = None
 
     batch_size, seq_len = max_utils.get_batch_seq_len_for_mode(config=cfg, model_mode=model_mode)
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ def __call__(
           attention_metadata=attention_metadata,
           deepstack_visual_embeds=deepstack_visual_embeds,
           mutable=mutable_collections,
-      ) # pytype: disable=wrong-keyword-args
+      )  # pytype: disable=wrong-keyword-args
 
     # Materialize hidden state when vocab tiling is enabled
     if self.config.num_vocab_tiling > 1: