diff --git a/imas/backends/imas_core/db_entry_al.py b/imas/backends/imas_core/db_entry_al.py
index b9d118d..8559b0c 100644
--- a/imas/backends/imas_core/db_entry_al.py
+++ b/imas/backends/imas_core/db_entry_al.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 from .al_context import ALContext, LazyALContext
 from .db_entry_helpers import delete_children, get_children, put_children
 from .imas_interface import LLInterfaceError, ll_interface
-from .mdsplus_model import mdsplus_model_dir
+from .mdsplus_model import mdsplus_model_dir, get_mdsplus_model_var
 from .uda_support import extract_idsdef, get_dd_version_from_idsdef_xml
 
 _OPEN_MODES = {
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ def _setup_backend(cls, backend: str, mode: int, factory: IDSFactory) -> None:
                 # Building the MDS+ models is required when creating a new Data Entry
                 ids_path = mdsplus_model_dir(factory)
                 if ids_path:
-                    os.environ["ids_path"] = ids_path
+                    os.environ[get_mdsplus_model_var()] = ids_path
 
         elif backend == "uda":
             # Set IDSDEF_PATH to point the UDA backend to the selected DD version
diff --git a/imas/backends/imas_core/mdsplus_model.py b/imas/backends/imas_core/mdsplus_model.py
index c5f09e2..d5f667e 100644
--- a/imas/backends/imas_core/mdsplus_model.py
+++ b/imas/backends/imas_core/mdsplus_model.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 from subprocess import CalledProcessError, check_output
 from zlib import crc32
+from packaging.version import Version
 
 try:
     from importlib.resources import as_file, files
@@ -24,6 +25,8 @@
 from imas.exception import MDSPlusModelError
 from imas.ids_factory import IDSFactory
 
+from .imas_interface import ll_interface
+
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
@@ -292,6 +295,20 @@ def create_model_ids_xml(cache_dir_path, fname, version):
         raise e
 
 
+def get_mdsplus_model_var() -> str:
+    """
+    Return the environemnt variable name used by IMAS-Core to locate models:
+
+    - 'ids_path' for IMAS-Core<5.6
+    - 'MDSPLUS_MODELS_PATH' for IMAS-Core>=5.6
+    """
+    return (
+        "ids_path"
+        if ll_interface._al_version < Version("5.6.0")
+        else "MDSPLUS_MODELS_PATH"
+    )
+
+
 def create_mdsplus_model(cache_dir_path: Path) -> None:
     """Use jtraverser to compile a valid MDS model file."""
     try:
@@ -322,7 +339,7 @@ def create_mdsplus_model(cache_dir_path: Path) -> None:
             env={
                 "PATH": os.environ.get("PATH", ""),
                 "LD_LIBRARY_PATH": os.environ.get("LD_LIBRARY_PATH", ""),
-                "ids_path": str(cache_dir_path),
+                get_mdsplus_model_var(): str(cache_dir_path),
             },
         )
         # Touch a file to show that we have finished the model