diff --git a/spacy/util.py b/spacy/util.py
index 1a40bb5ca..713501924 100644
--- a/spacy/util.py
+++ b/spacy/util.py
@@ -160,7 +160,10 @@ def load_model_from_path(model_path, meta=False, **overrides):
     pipeline from meta.json and then calls from_disk() with path."""
     if not meta:
         meta = get_model_meta(model_path)
-    cls = get_lang_class(meta["lang"])
+    # Support language factories registered via entry points (e.g. custom
+    # language subclass) while keeping top-level language identifier "lang"
+    lang = meta.get("lang_factory", meta["lang"])
+    cls = get_lang_class(lang)
     nlp = cls(meta=meta, **overrides)
     pipeline = meta.get("pipeline", [])
     disable = overrides.get("disable", [])