diff --git a/candle-nn/src/var_builder.rs b/candle-nn/src/var_builder.rs
index 83c86a6f..33d94c83 100644
--- a/candle-nn/src/var_builder.rs
+++ b/candle-nn/src/var_builder.rs
@@ -412,7 +412,16 @@ impl SimpleBackend for candle::safetensors::BufferedSafetensors {
 }
 
 impl<'a> VarBuilder<'a> {
-    fn new(backend: Box<dyn SimpleBackend + 'a>, dtype: DType, device: Device) -> Self {
+    /// Initializes a `VarBuilder` using a custom backend.
+    ///
+    /// It is preferred to use one of the more specific constructors. This
+    /// constructor is provided to allow downstream users to define their own
+    /// backends.
+    pub fn from_backend(
+        backend: Box<dyn SimpleBackend + 'a>,
+        dtype: DType,
+        device: Device,
+    ) -> Self {
         let data = TensorData {
             backend,
             dtype,
@@ -427,13 +436,13 @@ impl<'a> VarBuilder<'a> {
 
     /// Initializes a `VarBuilder` that uses zeros for any tensor.
     pub fn zeros(dtype: DType, dev: &Device) -> Self {
-        Self::new(Box::new(Zeros), dtype, dev.clone())
+        Self::from_backend(Box::new(Zeros), dtype, dev.clone())
     }
 
     /// Initializes a `VarBuilder` that retrieves tensors stored in a hashtable. An error is
     /// returned if no tensor is available under the requested path or on shape mismatches.
     pub fn from_tensors(ts: HashMap<String, Tensor>, dtype: DType, dev: &Device) -> Self {
-        Self::new(Box::new(ts), dtype, dev.clone())
+        Self::from_backend(Box::new(ts), dtype, dev.clone())
     }
 
     /// Initializes a `VarBuilder` using a `VarMap`. The requested tensors are created and
@@ -443,7 +452,7 @@ impl<'a> VarBuilder<'a> {
     /// Note that it is possible to load the tensor values after model creation using the `load`
     /// method on `varmap`, this can be used to start model training from an existing checkpoint.
     pub fn from_varmap(varmap: &VarMap, dtype: DType, dev: &Device) -> Self {
-        Self::new(Box::new(varmap.clone()), dtype, dev.clone())
+        Self::from_backend(Box::new(varmap.clone()), dtype, dev.clone())
     }
 
     /// Initializes a `VarBuilder` that retrieves tensors stored in a collection of safetensors
@@ -458,25 +467,25 @@ impl<'a> VarBuilder<'a> {
         dev: &Device,
     ) -> Result<Self> {
         let tensors = candle::safetensors::MmapedSafetensors::multi(paths)?;
-        Ok(Self::new(Box::new(tensors), dtype, dev.clone()))
+        Ok(Self::from_backend(Box::new(tensors), dtype, dev.clone()))
     }
 
     /// Initializes a `VarBuilder` from a binary builder in the safetensor format.
     pub fn from_buffered_safetensors(data: Vec<u8>, dtype: DType, dev: &Device) -> Result<Self> {
         let tensors = candle::safetensors::BufferedSafetensors::new(data)?;
-        Ok(Self::new(Box::new(tensors), dtype, dev.clone()))
+        Ok(Self::from_backend(Box::new(tensors), dtype, dev.clone()))
     }
 
     /// Initializes a `VarBuilder` that retrieves tensors stored in a numpy npz file.
     pub fn from_npz<P: AsRef<std::path::Path>>(p: P, dtype: DType, dev: &Device) -> Result<Self> {
         let npz = candle::npy::NpzTensors::new(p)?;
-        Ok(Self::new(Box::new(npz), dtype, dev.clone()))
+        Ok(Self::from_backend(Box::new(npz), dtype, dev.clone()))
     }
 
     /// Initializes a `VarBuilder` that retrieves tensors stored in a pytorch pth file.
     pub fn from_pth<P: AsRef<std::path::Path>>(p: P, dtype: DType, dev: &Device) -> Result<Self> {
         let pth = candle::pickle::PthTensors::new(p)?;
-        Ok(Self::new(Box::new(pth), dtype, dev.clone()))
+        Ok(Self::from_backend(Box::new(pth), dtype, dev.clone()))
     }
 }