diff --git a/src/axolotl/prompt_strategies/sharegpt.py b/src/axolotl/prompt_strategies/sharegpt.py
index 5f0e7a895..8b452ae19 100644
--- a/src/axolotl/prompt_strategies/sharegpt.py
+++ b/src/axolotl/prompt_strategies/sharegpt.py
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ def build_loader(
         )
         if ds_cfg and "strict" in ds_cfg and hasattr(strategy, "strict"):
             strategy.strict = ds_cfg["strict"]
+        if ds_cfg and "field_messages" in ds_cfg and hasattr(strategy, "messages"):
+            strategy.messages = ds_cfg["field_messages"]
         return strategy
 
     return _load
@@ -97,6 +99,7 @@ class SimpleShareGPTPromptTokenizingStrategy(ShareGPTPromptTokenizingStrategy):
     """
 
     _strict = False
+    _messages = "conversations"
 
     @property
     def strict(self):
@@ -106,8 +109,16 @@ class SimpleShareGPTPromptTokenizingStrategy(ShareGPTPromptTokenizingStrategy):
     def strict(self, strict):
         self._strict = strict
 
+    @property
+    def messages(self):
+        return self._messages
+
+    @messages.setter
+    def messages(self, messages):
+        self._messages = messages
+
     def get_conversation_thread(self, prompt):
-        conversations = prompt["conversations"]
+        conversations = prompt[self.messages]
         if self.strict:
             return conversations
         role_key = "from"
diff --git a/src/axolotl/utils/config/models/input/v0_4_1/__init__.py b/src/axolotl/utils/config/models/input/v0_4_1/__init__.py
index 31750ac15..b6eafa7a3 100644
--- a/src/axolotl/utils/config/models/input/v0_4_1/__init__.py
+++ b/src/axolotl/utils/config/models/input/v0_4_1/__init__.py
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ class SFTDataset(BaseModel):
     field: Optional[str] = None
     field_human: Optional[str] = None
     field_model: Optional[str] = None
+    field_messages: Optional[str] = None
 
     roles: Optional[Dict[str, List[str]]] = None