diff --git a/ggml/src/ggml-metal/ggml-metal-device.m b/ggml/src/ggml-metal/ggml-metal-device.m
index 7b7d1c12335..b4c3a6a468e 100644
--- a/ggml/src/ggml-metal/ggml-metal-device.m
+++ b/ggml/src/ggml-metal/ggml-metal-device.m
@@ -769,9 +769,14 @@ ggml_metal_device_t ggml_metal_device_init(void) {
 #endif
 
             dev->props.use_shared_buffers = dev->props.has_unified_memory;
+            // In case of eGPU, shared memory may be preferable.
+            dev->props.use_shared_buffers |= [dev->mtl_device location] == MTLDeviceLocationExternal;
             if (getenv("GGML_METAL_SHARED_BUFFERS_DISABLE") != NULL) {
                 dev->props.use_shared_buffers = false;
             }
+            if (getenv("GGML_METAL_SHARED_BUFFERS_ENABLE") != NULL) {
+                dev->props.use_shared_buffers = true;
+            }
 
             dev->props.supports_gpu_family_apple7 = [dev->mtl_device supportsFamily:MTLGPUFamilyApple7];