diff --git a/sqlmesh/dbt/manifest.py b/sqlmesh/dbt/manifest.py
index edb9004d6f..ca20554e3b 100644
--- a/sqlmesh/dbt/manifest.py
+++ b/sqlmesh/dbt/manifest.py
@@ -360,16 +360,20 @@ def _load_models_and_seeds(self) -> None:
                 )
 
                 self._models_per_package[node.package_name][node_name] = ModelConfig(
-                    sql=sql,
-                    dependencies=dependencies,
-                    tests=tests,
-                    **node_config,
+                    **dict(
+                        node_config,
+                        sql=sql,
+                        dependencies=dependencies,
+                        tests=tests,
+                    )
                 )
             else:
                 self._seeds_per_package[node.package_name][node_name] = SeedConfig(
-                    dependencies=Dependencies(macros=macro_references),
-                    tests=tests,
-                    **node_config,
+                    **dict(
+                        node_config,
+                        dependencies=Dependencies(macros=macro_references),
+                        tests=tests,
+                    )
                 )
 
     def _load_on_run_start_end(self) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/dbt/test_model.py b/tests/dbt/test_model.py
index 00361cf8b8..e33c41e68c 100644
--- a/tests/dbt/test_model.py
+++ b/tests/dbt/test_model.py
@@ -75,7 +75,8 @@ def test_load_invalid_ref_audit_constraints(
     dbt_project_dir.mkdir()
     dbt_model_dir = dbt_project_dir / "models"
     dbt_model_dir.mkdir()
-    full_model_contents = "SELECT 1 as cola"
+    # add `tests` to model config since this is loaded by dbt and ignored and we shouldn't error when loading it
+    full_model_contents = """{{ config(tags=["blah"], tests=[{"blah": {"to": "ref('completely_ignored')", "field": "blah2"} }]) }} SELECT 1 as cola"""
     full_model_file = dbt_model_dir / "full_model.sql"
     with open(full_model_file, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
         f.write(full_model_contents)