diff --git a/python/sglang/srt/model_loader/loader.py b/python/sglang/srt/model_loader/loader.py
index 934579fd3..1d1a35c37 100644
--- a/python/sglang/srt/model_loader/loader.py
+++ b/python/sglang/srt/model_loader/loader.py
@@ -994,6 +994,11 @@ class DefaultModelLoader(BaseModelLoader):
 
     @staticmethod
     def load_weights_and_postprocess(model, weights, target_device):
+        DefaultModelLoader.load_weights_only(model, weights, target_device)
+        DefaultModelLoader.postprocess_weights(model, target_device)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def load_weights_only(model, weights, target_device):
         # Used in tests to verify memory savings when using online quantization.
         if is_cuda_alike():
             peak_memory = torch.cuda.max_memory_allocated()
@@ -1049,6 +1054,8 @@ class DefaultModelLoader(BaseModelLoader):
                 f"{memory_start - memory_end:.3f}",
             )
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def postprocess_weights(model, target_device):
         for _, module in model.named_modules():
             quant_method = getattr(module, "quant_method", None)
             if quant_method is not None:
diff --git a/test/registered/unit/model_loader/test_default_model_loader.py b/test/registered/unit/model_loader/test_default_model_loader.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..da5b3676a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/registered/unit/model_loader/test_default_model_loader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+import unittest
+from contextlib import nullcontext
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
+
+import torch
+
+import sglang.srt.model_loader.loader as loader_mod
+from sglang.srt.model_loader.loader import DefaultModelLoader
+from sglang.test.ci.ci_register import register_cpu_ci
+from sglang.test.test_utils import CustomTestCase
+
+register_cpu_ci(est_time=1, suite="base-a-test-cpu")
+
+
+class TestDefaultModelLoader(CustomTestCase):
+    def test_load_weights_only_precedes_postprocessing(self):
+        events = []
+        model = Mock()
+        model.quant_config = None
+        module = Mock()
+        module.quant_method.process_weights_after_loading.side_effect = lambda _: (
+            events.append("postprocess")
+        )
+        model.load_weights.side_effect = lambda _: events.append("load")
+        model.named_modules.return_value = [("layer", module)]
+
+        with (
+            patch.object(loader_mod, "is_cuda_alike", return_value=False),
+            patch.object(
+                loader_mod,
+                "device_loading_context",
+                side_effect=lambda *_: nullcontext(),
+            ),
+        ):
+            DefaultModelLoader.load_weights_and_postprocess(
+                model,
+                iter(()),
+                torch.device("cpu"),
+            )
+
+        self.assertEqual(events, ["load", "postprocess"])
+
+    def test_boot_paths_preserve_load_order_and_custom_override(self):
+        class CustomModelLoader(DefaultModelLoader):
+            def load_weights_and_postprocess(self, model, weights, target_device):
+                events.append("override")
+                DefaultModelLoader.load_weights_and_postprocess(
+                    model, weights, target_device
+                )
+
+        for loader_class in (DefaultModelLoader, CustomModelLoader):
+            with self.subTest(loader=loader_class.__name__):
+                events = []
+                loader = object.__new__(loader_class)
+                loader.load_config = object()
+                model = Mock(quant_config=None)
+                model.eval.return_value = model
+                model.load_weights.side_effect = lambda weights: events.append(
+                    ("load", list(weights))
+                )
+                module = Mock()
+                module.quant_method.process_weights_after_loading.side_effect = (
+                    lambda _: events.append("postprocess")
+                )
+                model.named_modules.return_value = [("layer", module)]
+                model_config = SimpleNamespace(modelopt_quant=None, dtype=torch.float32)
+                resolved_source = SimpleNamespace(source=object())
+
+                with (
+                    patch.object(loader_mod, "is_cuda_alike", return_value=False),
+                    patch.object(
+                        loader_mod, "_get_quantization_config", return_value=None
+                    ),
+                    patch.object(loader_mod, "_initialize_model", return_value=model),
+                    patch.object(
+                        loader_mod,
+                        "device_loading_context",
+                        side_effect=lambda *_: nullcontext(),
+                    ),
+                    patch.object(
+                        loader, "_get_all_weights", return_value=iter([("direct", 1)])
+                    ),
+                    patch.object(
+                        loader,
+                        "_get_weights_iterator",
+                        return_value=iter([("deferred", 2)]),
+                    ) as get_weights,
+                ):
+                    self.assertIs(
+                        loader.load_model(
+                            model_config=model_config,
+                            device_config=SimpleNamespace(device="cpu"),
+                        ),
+                        model,
+                    )
+                    loader.commit_model_weights(
+                        model=model,
+                        model_config=model_config,
+                        resolved_sources=(resolved_source,),
+                        target_device=torch.device("cpu"),
+                        startup_prefetch_active=True,
+                    )
+
+                expected = []
+                for weights in ([("direct", 1)], [("deferred", 2)]):
+                    if loader_class is CustomModelLoader:
+                        expected.append("override")
+                    expected.extend([("load", weights), "postprocess"])
+                self.assertEqual(events, expected)
+                get_weights.assert_called_once_with(
+                    resolved_source.source,
+                    resolved_source=resolved_source,
+                    startup_prefetch_started=True,
+                    startup_prefetch_active=True,
+                )
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()