diff --git a/src/exo/worker/engines/mlx/patches/__init__.py b/src/exo/worker/engines/mlx/patches/__init__.py
index 5e86c08c2e..513d7e1ff1 100644
--- a/src/exo/worker/engines/mlx/patches/__init__.py
+++ b/src/exo/worker/engines/mlx/patches/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from exo.worker.engines.mlx.patches.cuda_compat import apply_cuda_compat_patches
 from exo.worker.engines.mlx.patches.opt_batch_gen import apply_batch_gen_patch
 from exo.worker.engines.mlx.patches.standard_yarn_rope import patch_yarn_rope
 
@@ -9,5 +10,6 @@ def apply_mlx_patches() -> None:
     if _applied:
         return
     _applied = True
+    apply_cuda_compat_patches()
     patch_yarn_rope()
     apply_batch_gen_patch()
diff --git a/src/exo/worker/engines/mlx/patches/cuda_compat.py b/src/exo/worker/engines/mlx/patches/cuda_compat.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..11ed3452f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/exo/worker/engines/mlx/patches/cuda_compat.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+"""CUDA compatibility patches for MLX on Linux.
+
+MLX on Linux CUDA has some API differences from macOS Metal.
+This module provides shims to bridge those gaps.
+"""
+
+import sys
+
+import mlx.core as mx
+
+
+def apply_cuda_compat_patches() -> None:
+    """Apply MLX CUDA compatibility patches.
+
+    These patches are only applied on Linux systems where MLX uses the CUDA backend.
+    They are no-ops on macOS or CPU-only Linux.
+    """
+    if sys.platform == "darwin":
+        return
+
+    # mlx-lm expects new_thread_local_stream, but Linux CUDA MLX exposes new_stream.
+    # Patch mx to provide the expected API.
+    if not hasattr(mx, "new_thread_local_stream") and hasattr(mx, "new_stream"):
+        mx.new_thread_local_stream = mx.new_stream  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
diff --git a/src/exo/worker/engines/mlx/utils_mlx.py b/src/exo/worker/engines/mlx/utils_mlx.py
index 730abf64e3..535c38d9ce 100644
--- a/src/exo/worker/engines/mlx/utils_mlx.py
+++ b/src/exo/worker/engines/mlx/utils_mlx.py
@@ -793,29 +793,22 @@ def mlx_force_oom(size: int = 200000) -> None:
     mx.eval(f)
 
 
-def set_wired_limit_for_model(model_size: Memory):
-    """
-    A context manager to temporarily change the wired limit.
-
-    Note, the wired limit should not be changed during an async eval.  If an
-    async eval could be running pass in the streams to synchronize with prior
-    to exiting the context manager.
-    """
-    if not mx.metal.is_available():
-        return
-
-    max_rec_size = Memory.from_bytes(
-        int(mx.device_info()["max_recommended_working_set_size"])
-    )
-    if model_size > 0.9 * max_rec_size:
-        logger.warning(
-            f"Generating with a model that requires {model_size.in_float_mb:.1f} MB "
-            f"which is close to the maximum recommended size of {max_rec_size.in_float_mb:.1f} "
-            "MB. This can be slow. See the documentation for possible work-arounds: "
-            "https://github.com/ml-explore/mlx-lm/tree/main#large-models"
+def set_wired_limit_for_model(model_size: Memory) -> None:
+    if mx.metal.is_available():
+        max_rec_size = Memory.from_bytes(
+            int(mx.device_info()["max_recommended_working_set_size"])
         )
-    mx.set_wired_limit(max_rec_size.in_bytes)
-    logger.info(f"Wired limit set to {max_rec_size}.")
+        if model_size > 0.9 * max_rec_size:
+            logger.warning(
+                f"Generating with a model that requires {model_size.in_float_mb:.1f} MB "
+                f"which is close to the maximum recommended size of {max_rec_size.in_float_mb:.1f} "
+                "MB. This can be slow. See the documentation for possible work-arounds: "
+                "https://github.com/ml-explore/mlx-lm/tree/main#large-models"
+            )
+        mx.set_wired_limit(max_rec_size.in_bytes)
+        logger.info(f"Wired limit set to {max_rec_size}.")
+    elif hasattr(mx, "cuda") and mx.cuda.is_available():
+        logger.info("CUDA backend active — skipping Metal wired limit.")
 
 
 def mlx_cleanup(
diff --git a/src/exo/worker/runner/bootstrap.py b/src/exo/worker/runner/bootstrap.py
index f981667c0a..b6d76b0cd8 100644
--- a/src/exo/worker/runner/bootstrap.py
+++ b/src/exo/worker/runner/bootstrap.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import os
 import resource
+import sys
 import traceback
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import Self, cast
@@ -51,12 +52,14 @@ def entrypoint(
     resource.setrlimit(resource.RLIMIT_NOFILE, (min(max(soft, 2048), hard), hard))
 
     fast_synch_override = os.environ.get("EXO_FAST_SYNCH")
-    if fast_synch_override == "false":
-        os.environ["MLX_METAL_FAST_SYNCH"] = "0"
+    if sys.platform == "darwin":
+        if fast_synch_override == "false":
+            os.environ["MLX_METAL_FAST_SYNCH"] = "0"
+        else:
+            os.environ["MLX_METAL_FAST_SYNCH"] = "1"
+        logger.info(f"Fast synch flag: {os.environ['MLX_METAL_FAST_SYNCH']}")
     else:
-        os.environ["MLX_METAL_FAST_SYNCH"] = "1"
-
-    logger.info(f"Fast synch flag: {os.environ['MLX_METAL_FAST_SYNCH']}")
+        logger.info("Fast synch flag: skipped (non-Darwin platform)")
 
     # Import main after setting global logger - this lets us just import logger from this module
     try: